Linda Batten

I was born in Johor Baharu to Phil and Bunty Brown and I have one sister, Jennifer. My father was based on Johore Labis Estate as MET engineer, working for the French company Socfin Rubber and Palm Oil Estates. We also stayed on Lima Blas, Sungai Tinggi and Nigel Gardner estates.

During the “Emergency”, life was precarious on the estates and the ISP Association decided to start Uplands School in 1955 so the children would be safer up on the hill on the island. I was sent to boarding school in England when I was 12, after 6 years at Uplands, but my home was in Malaysia until I was 15.

I worked for many years as a medical secretary for doctors, consultants and professors around England, following which I worked as a medical rep.

I’ve been a member of the IWA since 2019, becoming Vice President during 2022 and again in the latter part of 2023 to assist with a shortfall in committee members.

I enjoy arranging the coach trips for members and hope to continue doing so in 2024.