SINGAPORE, Aug 23 — A gentle giant, warm and sincere, a man who "always has a smile for everyone”.

These were among the memories members of the public who came by the Istana to pen their tributes had of the late former President SR Nathan.

People started arriving before daybreak and by 10.30am this morning — around 12 hours since Nathan’s passing — close to 100 handwritten tribute cards had been put up on the boards.

The mood was sombre, with some crying while writing their notes, and others murmuring prayers before putting up their cards at the tribute area near the Istana main gate along Orchard Road.

Self-employed engineer Lim Rong Xiang, who was among the first to arrive at the Istana at 6.15am, said he could not sleep after receiving news of Nathan’s passing at 9.48pm yesterday, at the Singapore General Hospital where he had been warded since he suffered a stroke on July 31.

The 35-year-old remembers Nathan as a "beloved elected president”.

"His long term of service was one of the most spiritually insightful periods of my life,” said Lim. Nathan, 92, was Singapore’s President for 12 years, from 1999 to 2011.

Adrian Ng and his wife Joyce Wong, both 42, said they will miss running into Nathan during morning walks at East Coast Park. 

The couple remember him as an approachable man who will always oblige requests for photos. 

"He is a fatherly figure to many people, a very approachable person who has no airs,” said Ng. 

Two classes of students from the School of the Arts (Sota) — led by history teacher Ng Herk Siang and Malay teacher Maslinda Ali — also came by in the midst of their lessons.

Maslinda, 40, said the school held a ceremony to pay tribute to Nathan this morning, where a video was screened and the principal delivered a speech outlining his contributions to Singapore. 

"His dedication to Singapore and in paying attention to the people is just incredible. There is a lot we can learn from him,” said Sota student Natasha Sturgess. The 17-year-old remembers Nathan as the Republic’s longest serving president who took office the year she was born.

Another student, Syaleirah Noble, proudly recalled the privilege of having performed for Nathan, while other members of the public showed off photos they had taken with him. 

Besides personal encounters, members of the public also recounted Nathan’s long service to the nation in various capacities — including his work in the social service and in foreign relations — in their tribute cards. 

Members of public can access the area outside the Istana round-the-clock till midnight on Saturday to pen their tributes. The public can also express their condolences and share their memories of Nathan atwww.remembering.sg/srnathan and the Remembering S R Nathan Facebook page. — TODAY

* Nathan will lie in state at Parliament House on Thursday, where people can go and pay their last respects from 10am to 8pm.