Cobbling is a slowly dying trade, even before the pandemic which has affected small businesses significantly. However, there are still some cobblers trudging along with their trade despite the challenges.
One such cobbler is an elderly man in his 70s who peddles his trade near the Holland Village MRT Station.
A netizen on the Hawkers United – Dabao 2020 Facebook group shared on Monday (19 July) that she had read about this uncle decided to pay him a visit to support his trade. She took her daughter’s heels to him for mending.
On 11 July, Mothership.sg posted a video featuring the same cobbler, identified as 75-year-old Peter Chin. According to the video, Mr Chin has been working as a cobbler at Holland Village for over four decades, the sole breadwinner of his family. He supports his wife and his son who has depression, the video noted.
Unfortunately, the business has started to dwindle over the years as fewer people opt for roadside cobblers.
“When my business is good, my mood will be good because then I would be able to feed my family,” he said in the video.
“How can I be happy when there’s no business?”
The netizen who posted on Hawkers United – Dabao 2020 group expressed her sadness at seeing his hands shaking while holding onto his tools while working.
When she asked him if his business had improved after the news, the uncle said “点啦 with exasperation,” she recalled.
The netizen then encouraged readers to help the uncle if they could, as it may just mean “one less meal at a restaurant for many [people]” for them to send their shoes in to be mended by him.
Several people commented on the Hawkers United – Dabao 2020 post that they’ve been taking their shoes to him for repair, commending his workamnship. One person said “He’s great”, while another said he is their “go-to cobbler”.
A few people noted that they remember him being around in the area for decades.
One netizen expressed sadness to see the elderly uncle trying to make an living despite hardships.
Others wondered if the uncle would accept donations, though several people responded that it would be better to simply pay him extra for his services instead.
However, another person said that the uncle is willing to accept donations, and that they did give him S$50 a month ago which he “gratefully accepted”.
Even so, one netizen wondered if there was a long-term solution that would be more helpful to the uncle to ensure a more stable income, such as getting him a suitable day job.
One person offered to send him meals while another wondered if there were social services that would be of help.
