SINGAPORE, Aug 10 — It was a time of smaller planes and fewer crew members, but Dolly Tan still remembers those days with fondness — including moments she had to carry crying babies to calm them down.

The 69-year-old retiree was among the first batch of cabin crew of what was then the Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA), which eventually became Singapore Airlines in 1972.

“We had to do everything. There were only seven crew members for a flight to London. We even had to be like nurse maids on board, to carry babies and take care of them on the plane. These days, because there are many more flights and flight attendants required, it’s not as difficult,” she said.

The Penang-based Tan was recently in Singapore for a reunion with more than 30 former colleagues.

Incidentally, it was also around the same time as the launch of the Asian Civilisations Museum’s ongoing exhibition Unearthed: Singapore At 25, where the iconic Singapore Airlines kebaya uniform, which was designed by Pierre Balmain, is among the 50 items.

Also on display is a photo of the original Singapore Girl, See Biew Wah. And Tan knows all too well what it was like to be a poster girl for the airline, having appeared in several newspaper clippings for both the MSA and Singapore Airlines before she left the service in 1974 to get married.

Dolly Tan, clad in the iconic kebaya of Singapore Airlines

Things have changed, she said, adding that she feels the Singapore Girl has evolved over time.

“The criteria used to be very strict. I remember going for four rounds of interviews: Two in Penang and two in Singapore. It was like a beauty contest!” she recalled with a laugh.

Tan also revealed that the male cabin crew attendants (there were about one or two on each flight) were the ones who would heat up the food back then. As for difficult passengers, there hasn’t been any difference, she said.

You had them back in the 1960s and 1970s as well, including those who got touchy-feely.

“The worst were the ones who were drunk. Yes, I encountered one who touched my bum. But I consider myself lucky that it was not the front,” she quipped.

Even though it has been more than 40 years since she left, Tan said she still loves travelling on Singapore Airlines because of its good service.

“How I envy the SQ girls now. They really get to travel all over the world. The airline is flying to even more destinations and there is so much more to see now.” — TODAY