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Article by KLF Wijedasa** During this Olympic year it is pertinent to remember one of our country’s greatest athletes Major Duncan White on his 23rd death anniversary (July 3). On his way to success, he had to glide over 10 barriers and not break them! 14th August 1948: Duncan White of Ceylon fixes his starting blocks to the track at the 1948 London Olympics. Original Publication: Picture Post – 4582 – Fastest Men On Earth – pub. 1948 (Photo by Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Duncan White was born on the 1st of March 1918 at Lathpandura a rural village 2km from Baduraliya in the Kalutara District. His early education was at Trinity College Kandy. He was the captain of athletics in 1936 when Trinity College won the John Tarbat Challenge Cup and the Jefferson Cup for the Relays. White won the 220yds establishing a new record, 120yds Hurdles and the Long Jump. He was awarded the Trinity Lion for Athletics. On leaving Trinity College, he joined the Medical Department as a Physical Training Instructor and represented the Department at the Government Services Meet. In 1937 he participated in the National Championships representing Ace Athletic Club he returned a time of 52.0 secs in September and further improved it to 50.4secs the same year. Running in the 440 yds Hurdles event he clocked 56.4 secs. In 1940 he returned a time of 56.0 secs in the 440yds Hurdle event at the National Championships. It took 20 long years to improve the record till Nimal Fernando of the CT & FC returned a time of 55.7 secs. In 1944 running for the Ceylon Army Duncan clocked 22.2 secs for the 200m, which was equalled by W. Wimaladasa of the Army in 1964. D.K Podimahathmaya had the privilege of erasing Duncan’s record of 22.2 by .1 of a second after 24 years. In 1938 he represented Ceylon at the British Empire Games held in Sydney in 1938. He was the only schoolboy in the team. He represented Ceylon at the first Indo-Ceylon dual meet held in Colombo in 1940 and at the second Indo-Ceylon Meet held in Bangalore. At the first Indo-Ceylon Meet, he won gold medals in the 400m and 400m Hurdles events and helped win the two relays. In Bangalore, he won a gold medal in the 400m hurdles and won a silver in the 110m hurdles. Ceylon’s Olympic Squad in 1948 After breaking records in the National arena he turned to the wider International arena. He was a member of the first Ceylon team to an Olympic Games. That was the 1948 London Olympic Games. There was a special significance for Ceylon as it was in the year 1948 that we gained Independence from the British Empire. Duncan White won the silver medal beaten by Roy Cochran of the USA by only 7/10th of a second. While Cochran established an Olympic Games Record, Duncan White too bettered the previous record. On the strength of his performance at the Olympic Games, he was awarded a Government Scholarship to follow a course in Physical Education at the prestigious Loughborough College of Physical Education. At Loughborough, he Captained the College for three consecutive years. During his period the College won the British University Athletics Championships. At the 1950 British Empire Games held in Auckland, New Zealand Duncan White won the gold medal in the 440yds hurdles event with a new British Empire Games Record which was only 3/5th of a second outside the World record. On completing his studies at Loughborough College he returned to Ceylon in 1951, took up the post of a lecturer at the Training College Maharagama. In 1960 he took up the post of Athletic coach for the schools of the Department of Education with the approval of the then Minister of Education E.A. Nugawela. He did yeoman’s service to the young athletes of the schools, especially the Central Schools. R.A.C. Hubert of Piliyandala Madya Maha Vidyalaya was one such athlete who did well in the 400m. I am personally aware that he had gone to Gamini Vidyalaya Benthota on three occasions. He also had helped Harris Manikkam at the Christian College Kotte athletic camps. There he had screened his final run in the 400m Hurdles at the 1948 London Olympics. C.W. Pitigala, as a sharp student at that time, had asked Duncan why he had looked back while fixing the blocks. He had commented on his observant nature and answered. “when I was nailing my starting blocks someone had shouted “Hey Ceylon you are late” So he had turn back and said “shut up” and nailed his blocks. While nailing the blocks he injured his finger. He ignored the injury and concentrated on the event. And the rest was history. It is a good lesson for our young athletes not to get ruffled for the slightest thing at the start of an event. In 1964, he left for Nigeria to take up the post of Senior Lecturer in Athletics at the University of Ibadu. Later he settled down in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Duncan White was awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1949 and the Helms World Trophy as the Most Outstanding Athlete in Asia. Duncan White married Angela Siebel and they had six children Nita, Marilene, Fiona, Daniel, Maxine and Christopher. His teammates to the British Empire Games held in Auckland New Zealand said that when Duncan White ran the last lap for Sri Lanka in the 4x400m Relay the whole stadium stood up and cheered him because it was a fantastic run. He had overtaken several runners and came fourth. Several officials had asked him why he had not entered for the 400m event. The late Cyril Gardiner, the then chairman of the prestigious Galle Face Hotel, as a mark of respect to Duncan White adorned his name on a plaque at the entrance to the Galle Face Hotel as a distinguished guest of the Hotel. It was at this Hotel that I had
An article by Chaniru Senhas (Grade 8) Boxing at Trinity Boxing has traditionally been one of Trinity’s most exciting sports, both among alumni and students. The beginnings of Boxing dates to 1907 when only younger students were allowed to be a part of the sport. Since 1913, Boxing became a main-stream sport in college and many inter-house tournaments were held. Consequently, in 1914 Trinity won its first battle for the Stubbs Shield. Trinity boxing became defunct in 1962, but, it sprang back to life in 1975 with the trainers being Bobby Jayaweera, S. B. Kiridena, Leslie Handunge and Sarath Jayasinghe and culminated with winning the Stubbs in 1983. Sadly, the second death-knell was dealt to Trinity boxing in 1984 and was again revived in 2005 and continues to this day. Joe Louis of Ceylon Leslie Donovan Perera Handunge, better known as Leslie Handunge, who has been a colleague of Duncan White, was the only Olympic boxer produced by Trinity. He was born on the 18th of June, 1921 and he lived to an age of 100 years. He was one of the finest sportsmen produced by Trinity College. After joining Trinity, he was guided by many coaches. He lived in Matale at the time. Leslie represented Garret House in four major sports: cricket, boxing, rugby, and athletics. His siblings too were well-known sportsmen and sportswomen in their respective fields. Leslie became captain of the College Boxing Team in 1939 while keeping the family tradition as his father too was the captain of the College Boxing team. He was a multitalented athlete who also achieved a place in the National Boxing team. Immediately after leaving Trinity in 1940, Leslie joined the College staff from 1942 to 1944. He enrolled in Peradeniya University’s Agriculture Faculty in 1947 to pursue a degree in agriculture, and subsequently won the Manning Cup for Best Boxer at the National Boxing Championship Meet the following year as an undergraduate. Leslie was also the Director of Physical Education at the University of Peradeniya. Leslie obtained a Diploma in Physical Education from the University of Loughborough UK and a Masters Degree in Physical Education from the University of Springfield USA. He gained his pride and respect by representing Sri Lanka at the 1948 London Olympics where he participated in the men’s flyweight event. In round one of this event he gained victory by defeating Guillermo Porteiro who was an Uruguayan boxer. Round 2 is where he was defeated by Spartaco Bandinelli, an Italian boxer. Not only at the London Olympics, but Leslie also participated in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He was awarded Gold medal in round 1 by defeating Walter Tello, a Panamanian boxer in the men’s flyweight event. In round 2 which was a redraw, handunge was defeated by Dai Dower, a boxer from Britain. Following his Olympic performance, Leslie enrolled in Loughborough College to pursue a Diploma in Physical Education, becoming the first Ceylonese to do so. At the age of 31, Lesie, who was also famously known as ‘Joe Louis of Ceylon,’ announced his retirement from the sport. Gaining the essence from many past sportsmen produced by Trinity, Boxing continues to be a key sport in College upholding the values of leadership and teamwork. In Leslie’s own words: “So Trinity –Play hard, play clean,Do nothing dirty, nothing meanDo your best, you can’t do more,Play the game and forget the scoreRespect your opponents treat them withchivalryAbove all, maintain the traditions of Trinity.“ Leslie Handunge
Ceylon & the Church Missionary Society The period immediately following the fall of the Kandyan monarchy was one of rapid changes in Ceylon in general and Kandy in particular. A new community was emerging along the island’s beaches, nourished by the British monarchy and the Christian faith. However, as freedom conflicts raged in the newly conquered hill country, this new era took its time to permeate across the entire island. Following the upcountry subjugation of Kandyan Chiefs in 1815, the British took control of the Kandyan kingdom, and one of the measures of this new government was to create new Christian roots within the center of the island. This task was to be handled by the many missionary societies which arrived at Ceylon such as the London mission and the Baptist mission which were among the major societies who were keen on spreading their teachings in Ceylon. The Church Missionary Society (CMS) was well established in India by 1814, with interests in new lands such as Ceylon. The new opportunity in Ceylon piqued their interest, and the first two CMS missionaries were sent here but were later reassigned to the India mission. CMS again assigned four missionaries to Ceylon in 1817. These four missionaries were tasked with staying and carrying on the work of the previous missionaries who had been restated. Names of many famous and well-loved missionaries came to be recorded over the years, but in the Central Province, evangelistic agencies were only able to be properly established in the year 1853. However, prior to this, the CMS occupied Kandy as a mission station in 1819. The Kandy mission and Rev. William Oakley Sir Robert Brownrigg was the then Governor of Ceylon, and he was well-known for his efforts to keep the Central Province under control during this period. However, thanks to him and the initiative of a few missionaries, a mission station in Kandy was established to carry out the society’s work. Although a few missionaries who circulated among other mission stations took care of the Kandy mission in the coming years, the most connected name to Kandy is the Rev. William Oakley. Establishing the Reverend’s lineage is an impossible task because there have been a staggering number of William Oakleys in recent years, and misinformation is unavoidable. The Reverend William Oakley, husband of Frances Mary Oakley, is the William Oakley in discussion. The Reverend Oakley arrived in Galle with his wife Mary on September 21, 1839, to begin his work as a missionary in Ceylon. Few sources claim that he was tasked to serve in a few missions before moving to the Central Province, but the clearest records show that the Reverend was immediately tasked to the Kandy mission, where he and his wife were well-loved by the local congregation for their work and commitment to their mission. The CMS’s vision has always been to bring the Christian faith to the local community in a practical yet precise manner. Recognizing this, Rev. Oakley turned to the local language and conducted worship services in Sinhala and English languages. This drew a sizable crowd of Kandyans to his congregation. The Oakley’s Church Rev. Oakley was a devout Christian who never considered returning to England during his 32-year tenure in the Kandyan mission. In 1855, he worked in the Kandy mission, taking the initiative and laying the groundwork for one of the town’s most well-known churches, the Holy Trinity Church. However, because Rev Oakley was the founding father of the church and his devotion to the church, it became known as “Oakley’s Church.” Following the formation of a well-nurtured Christian community, the Rev. William Oakley was transferred to other missions such as Nuwara-Eliya after his loving wife Mary Oakley died in 1859, and he continued his work as the secretary and counselor of the Ceylon CMS for another twenty years. His work in Kandy was later delegated to a number of clerics, including native priests such as Rev Cornelius Jayasinha. Birth of the Kandy Collegiate School As Oakley’s Church served its purpose over the years, the Rev. John Ireland -Jones arrived with the idea of establishing a Christian-centered school of education in Kandy. Rev. Ireland -Jones opened the Kandy Collegiate School on the same grounds as the Holy Trinity Church because the atmosphere was conducive to such an endeavor and because of Rev. Oakley’s assistance. This new institution existed for a few years with the support of the local Trinity Church congregation and was attended by the sons of local chiefs, but it was forced to close in 1871. Trinity College Kandy, the school we know today was founded when the Kandy Collegiate School was reopened by the Rev. Richard Collins, and it would not have been possible without the assistance of Oakley’s church and its congregation. Despite the formation of a new school, Oakley’s church was the front face of the compound, and the College sought a place of worship in the Church. In certain cases, the College was even referred to as Oakley’s College. Many generations of Trinitians and local Christians have spent time in the Oakley’s church. The church was home to everything from weekly Holy Communion services to daily morning prayers and evensongs! However, with the expanding Kandyan Christian community and the ever-improving Trinity College, Oakley’s Church needed to expand to fulfill rising demands. In the early 1920s, the church was nearing the end of its life as a historic structure. Many people expressed dissatisfaction with its restricted capacity and unmaintainable interior. It was Rev. A.G. Fraser, Trinity’s Golden Era Principal, who chose to build a new place of worship for Trinity College. The Oakley’s Church was demolished in 1939. Reminiscing the Past and Looking to the End There is no definite record of what happened to Reverend Oakley after he served as the CMS counselor. While some sources claim that he returned to England at the end of his term, other sources say that he passed away and was buried in Nuwara Eliya Mrs.
The year was 1966, and a day scholar who sang treble in the Choir and had arrived early for the 6.30 pm practice was standing by the main entrance to the Trinity College Chapel when a man who could not have been more than 15 years his senior, climbed up the steps to the Chapel, bade him good evening, and exchanged a few pleasantries. Once practice began, Mr. Brown who at the time was the Choir Master, invited this young man to the Choir stalls. The choristers, out of curiosity, watched as he walked in with a slight limp. Mr. Brown introduced him as the soon-to-be Choirmaster of Trinity College Kandy. His name was Ronald Thangiah. Ronnie, as he was fondly known, was an affable and charismatic young character who had joined Trinity College merely to take up a job but he soon fell in love with the Chapel and the homely welcoming environment of the school. As an Old Boy of S. Thomas’ his consistent teasing of the school was soon gotten accustomed to. Mr. Ronnie Thangiah, who was a passionate, versatile musician, was suitable to be the Choirmaster to resume Maj. Gordon Burrows’ work at Trinity College. Besides training the Choir, as an outstanding hockey player at S. Thomas’ College, he was invited to be coach and acting Master-in-charge of Hockey for the under- 13 and under 15 teams of Trinity shortly after his arrival. Mr. Thangiah’s post as MIC was temporary. But even through the course of his old age, his love for the sport of hockey remained unchanged. In addition, Mr. Thangiah was also House-Master of Alison and a drama fanatic, producing plays for the Choir to perform including cast members like Lt. Col. Leonard de Alwis who was a chorister at the time. His enthusiasm for drama played a vital role in Trinity’s Centenary Celebrations when the Choir performed a 3-night show of the famous West Side Story. He was also in charge of the TCLA at one point. This combination of roles committed him to the life of Trinity—one that could never be forgotten. In addition to the Choir and hockey, his contribution to the forming of the Glee club was also an important part of his life at Trinity which then led to the beginning of Middle School singing groups. Mr. Thangiah also worked closely with the Principal Mr. C. J. Oorloff as the Principal’s Secretary and continued most of his work after Principal Oorloff left in 1967. Mr. Thangiah was remembered fondly specially during Choir trips when he would strum his guitar and sing many classical and popular tunes in his gravelly voice. His ability to play by ear came in handy and the boys would sing their hearts out with cheek-to-cheek smiles. Though the room was filled with the unbearable deafening tones of hoarse voices from all over from singing for hours, it brought out the little children in them and livened up the room with ecstatic energy and fun. His deep love for Trinity brought a new sense of passion and excitement into the Choir, and the bond he shared with his fellow choristers did not stop at the end of Choir Practice but also in the bus rides with some of his choristers in the initial years. Next to S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia, he considered Trinity as his second home especially after he was appointed Alison House Master and lived in the quarters attached to the dorm with his family. Mr. Thangiah loved the community life that living on the premises provided, and he became especially attached to the Chapel as Choirmaster. The brotherhood in the boarding drew him to spend his time with the boarders. Mr. Thangiah’s life at Trinity was a complete and full one, experiencing every part of college. His love for Trinity grew so deep, that he composed the “The School on the Hill” to express it, as it so wonderfully does, all-encompassing “Trinity” in one scene. The Choir performed it at the farewell of another icon of Trinity, Mr. G.Y. Sahayam. The Choir continues to sing it at the end of its last practice of a Term. As many might remember him, Mr. Thangiah was faithful to where he was called to serve. He never hesitated to speak up for what was right, so much so, he was known to walk up to the principal’s bungalow to make his point if participation at Chapel events was neglected. This he did not forget to teach the Choristers. He was one of the rare stalwarts who upheld good traditions and passed them on to the next generation. He taught not only singing and music to the boys, he taught them life! Joining School in 1966 and leaving in 1973 and rejoining later in 1986 to serve 27 years, Mr. Ronnie Thangiah had his last practice at the Chapel, at the end of September 2006. As a chorister recalls: “It was his last day of practice, I’m not sure what we would have practiced, but afterward we went to our usual spot by the pond, had chocolate cake and sang “Stand by me”. Then he said goodbye and walked out to his car and left. And we cried.” Mr. Thangiah had a special place in his heart for the Choir and the choristers; they held each other in a mutual respect. He is well remembered as a person who cared for and helped the choristers in every way he could. In the later years, he would go out of his way to drop choristers who had no transport after Choir Practice. His home was always a welcoming place where many a chorister would go to seek his counsel. Naturally, bringing the Choir to a high standard with an enjoyable array of music was his mission, but he considered the time he spent with these young boys as the highlight and the most beloved moments for him. He was a fascinating musician, mentor, and a friend to
Early Days In 1940, on the 27th of July, one of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated war heroes, Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa was born to Loku Bandara and Iona Ratwatte Kobbekaduwa, into a traditional Kandyan family. Growing up as the second child and the eldest of the three brothers, Kobbekaduwa showed excellence in not only his studies but at a variety of sports during his time at school. He had his nursery education at Hillwood College, and was admitted to Trinity College in 1948. Even as student he was looked upon by many as a role model as he possessed leadership qualities that were unlike any other. Sporting Excellence at Trinity His contribution to College through sports was unmatched and brought him wide recognition within Trinity. Kobbekaduwa represented Trinity at Rugby, Hockey and Cricket. This skillful scrum-half went on to lead the Trinity 1st XV Rugby team in 1959. He was the Vice Captain of the Hockey team during the same year as well. That was not all: he was a cricketer and a basketball player too. Kobbekaduwa left College with a Rugby Lion and Colours for Hockey on his blazer. His excellence was not limited to the sports arena ; he also excelled in his studies. He was appointed a School Prefect in 1960 and was appointed the Senior Prefect in the same year. This was Kobbekaduwa’s first major leadership appointment, but certainly was not the last. Stepping Stones of his Military Career He served as the Senior Prefect for only a week as he chose to pursue a career with the Sri Lanka Army (then called the Royal Ceylon Army), enlisting as an Officer Cadet in 1960 and training at Diyathalawa during his initial three months. This was followed by a two year officer training program at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, UK along with G. H. De Silva and two other Ceylonese cadets in the Academy’s 29th Intake. Leaving College to join the Army unfortunately prevented him from qualifying for the Ryde Gold Medal for the Best All-round Boy. He also had to abandon his place at the University of Peradeniya due to his overseas training. After successfully completing his training, Kobbekaduwa returned to Sri Lanka in 1962 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, Ceylon Armoured Corps.He never let go of his love for Rugby as he played for the Army Sports Club in the Clifford Cup while he was a part of the Regiment. His second overseas training course came in 1964 at the Bovington Military Academy in the UK on armoured fighting vehicles. He rejoined his Regiment, Armoured Corps, afterwards. Just like during his time in College, Kobbekaduwa never failed to command the respect of his peers during his time at the Regiment. The upward journey of his Rugby career 1967 was a serious setback to Kobbekaduwa’s career. He was sent on compulsory leave due to an alleged coup d’état attempt in which the Commander of the Ceylon Army, Major General Richard Udugama, was implicated. However, like a true leader, Kobbekaduwa did not look back and kept on improving. He spent the majority of his time in Kandy during this period, focusing on Rugby and farming. The scrum-half joined the Kandy Sports Club and played a major role in helping the club to build a formidable outfit that would be a threat to all ‘A’ division clubs. 1969 was a colourful year for him, when he was given the captaincy of the Kandy Sports Club. He also captained the Upcountry Combined Clubs Team. The biggest achievement of his prolific rugby career was when he received a cap for the All Ceylon Team (Sri Lanka) against the French and British top division clubs. Later he captained, refereed and administered the game on a national level, and acted as a Board Member of the Duncan White Sports Foundation. Although he achieved success at a rapid pace, he never forgot his roots. He came back to his Alma Mater to coach the Trinity 1st XV outfits in 1968, 1969, and 1970. Under his mentorship these teams flourished, with successes in the Bradby Shield, and in the League Championship. Marriage and Family During his suspension from the Army he met his wife Lalani Ratwatte. She was a tower of strength to him. She was extremely understanding and supportive. They had two daughters Roshani and Shanilka, and a son Dilshan. He was a very caring husband and a loving father to his children and always adored family time. The 1971 Insurrection In 1970, following the General Elections, he was cleared of all charges and was reinstated in the rank of Captain and attached to the Army’s Field Security Detachment, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Anuruddha Ratwatte. Based on investigations by the Military Police Unit under his command, Captain Kobbekaduwa warned the Government that a youth insurrection was imminent These warnings materialized when the JVP insurrection started on 5 April 1971, taking the Government and the military unprepared in its scale and magnitude. Post Insurrection After the Insurrection, he was put in charge of the security for Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranayake and promoted to the rank of Major. While playing an active role in the Army he continued to coach and play rugby for the Army and the Defense Services. During the latter part of 1974, he was selected to attend the prestigious British Army Staff College Military Academy, Surrey in the UK. Major Kobbekaduwa returned to Sri Lanka to his old Regiment, the Armoured Corps for a few months. Thereafter, he was moved to the Operations Desk at the Army Headquarters in Colombo. At the Battle Field – Civil War The change of governments in 1977 resulted in him being suspended once again. However, Major Kobbekaduwa was reinstated soon after, and was posted to Jaffna to serve in the Task Force for Anti Illicit Immigration (TaFaII). This Task Force was in place since the early 1960s to counter illegal immigration from India. During his time
“Many believe he was an officer who stumbled upon the halls of this school. On the contrary, he knew where he was going; he was on his way to a fresh adventure, to his first job, as an Assistant Master at Trinity”. When Major Gordon Burrows and Trinity crossed paths in 1946, Trinity was undergoing many major reformations and changes, such as the Church Missionary Society deciding to hand over control of the School to an independent Board of Governors in 1940, the appointment of Mr C.E. Simithraaratchy the first Ceylonese and Old Boy as Principal, and the construction of the new College Hall, (which was gifted by AHT de Soysa, an Old Boy) to replace the Old Hall which was demolished to make way for the new Hall. Early Life G.A.E Burrows was born on 20th February 1915 in Forest Hill, South London, where his father was curate at the local Presbyterian Church. He was the second of four children – 2 boys and 2 girls. When he was studying for the Ministry to be a Priest, War broke out and he joined the British Army as an Intelligence officer in the Royal Intelligence Corps. During the period of the Second World War, the South East Asia Command (SEAC) was created by the Allies in August 1943 and was based in Delhi. Major Gordon Burrows served in Lord Louis Mountbatten’s staff as an Intelligence officer after the SEAC headquarters moved in April 1944 to Peradeniya Gardens in Ceylon. He rose to the position of Chief Intelligence Officer to Lord Louis Mountbatten. The SEAC at the time was a crucial command post for the co-ordination of most defenses of allied forces. Also, the recapture of Burma by England was coordinated by the SEAC. During his time at SEAC, Major Gordon Burrows went to Church on Sundays at St Paul’s, Kandy. There he got to know members of the local community, some of whom became lifelong friends. This proved seminal, for it was one of them who suggested to him, after the war had ended, that he consider staying in Kandy, becoming a school-teacher. He was an Intelligence officer, a Teacher, a Housemaster and finally Co-Vice Principal at Trinity College. He had also risen through the ranks during the World War II to become a Major. After the war ended, Major Gordon Burrows stayed in Ceylon as it was then known. He fell in love with the beauty of the island amidst all chaos in the world. Playing the piano at the College hall Whilst he was an army officer, he once played the piano as part of a recital at the College Hall, for he was a concert-quality pianist. Here he met Mr. Simitharachchy with whom he was acquainted. After being invited to spend another year in Ceylon, in 1946 he agreed to stay working as a Latin teacher at College. He returned to England in 1947 to consider whether his decision was not spontaneous and what he really wanted to do with his life, whether to teach in Ceylon, or not. Yet, Trinity had got under his skin in that brief period of time and so, having given serious thought to being lured by the burning hot sun, the golden beaches, and the bright moon, in all of which he never lost his delight, Maj. Gordon Burrows returned to Trinity in 1949 as Co-Vice Principal, taking up residence within the school premises. A natural born teacher For fourteen more years he laboured here at College educating young Trinitians in Latin and English, and being the natural born teacher he was, Mr. Burrows (as addressed at the time) enjoyed teaching as did his students have the same enjoyment of learning. Mr. Burrows did not waste a moment of the boys’ constant pursuit of curiosity and was remarkable in inspiring others with his own enthusiasm. While his methods of teaching were unorthodox, to say the least, his results were always spectacular. At times when the boys did well in his lessons of Latin, they were taken by Mr. Burrows to the swimming pool in what was then called the King’s Pavilion, today the Kandy President’s House. It was the Kandy Residence of Ceylon’s Governor, Lord Soulbury. This was possible due to the special relationship that Mr. Gordon Burrows had with the British Administration. Mrs Pat Mr. Burrows had been here four years when he went off home on his first holiday. Although he returned single, a few were let into the secret that he was soon flying back to get married. Trinity waited in trepidation …. but none need have worried. When he went on furlough from College to return to the United Kingdom, the best thing that Mr. Burrows ever did for himself was to get married. They were married on 3rd September 1954 in Ballymoney, Northern Ireland at the Presbyterian Church there, and soon after arriving in England they sailed by ship for their honeymoon, a two-week voyage, from Southampton to Colombo. He returned with the demure”Mrs. Pat” (as she was known to the boys) as his bride, and he also received his appointment as the House Master of Alison House. Mr. Burrows along with Mrs. Pat were extremely good towards the boys and looked after the Alisonians very well. “Mrs. Pat” was a foster mother to all the Alisonians as remembered by those who had the privilege of growing up under the care of Mr. & Mrs. Burrows. For with the continuation of teaching at College, Mr Burrows was successful in raising a family of his own on this little island which he so adored. In fact, they gave a Ceylonese name to each of their children, their two sons being named Peter Ananda and Michael Rohan and the daughter being named Alison Sriyani. Many were the eventful days for Mr Burrows and his family . One such was recalled by an old boy of the time, Mr Sriyantha Simon Senaratna. “I recall an incident when I was a senior Alisonian and a Prefect of the House. Peter as a little child, got onto the ledge of the Alison building and started walking along the ledge to our and Mr. & Mrs. Burrows’ absolute horror. We were at the bottom holding sheets to catch him if he fell, but thank God he reached the railing and safety”. Major Burrows and the Choir If Mr. Burrows brought freshness to the classroom, to the Choir he brought dedication and a true sense of its real role in worship in the Chapel. Gone were the days when they were a group of shanghaied singers, partly due to a lengthy period of absence of leadership following Ms.Valesca Reimann’s departure from school in 1940. Maj Burrows instead made the boys into a disciplined group of singers who sang because they enjoyed it, were conscious of their responsibilities and were willing to practice the long and arduous hours that Mr. Burrows demanded so as to reach that pitch of perfection he insisted on. On 1st December, 1950, the BBC World Service broadcast Trinity’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols to the world on the “World Service” as part of its Christmas Programme. The Chapel would come alive on the day of the Carol Service, carefully and beautifully lit up and filled with students, parents, past pupils and staff. Under his care the Carol Service became the much loved occasion that it is today, but to him it was only one of many services throughout the year for which the Choir practiced hard and regularly. And so, a chorister of his, Maj. Richard Hermon said “For my part, my memories of the choir are plentiful and happy !! I joined the choir solely to cut Prep on Thursdays, as that was when choir practice was held. I remember the trips to S Thomas’ College, Mt Lavinia where we stayed when
It was on the 3rd of December 2007, when Sri Lanka hosted England at the Asgiriya Cricket Stadium for the 1st Test Match. This was a very special day for the Sri Lankan cricketing fraternity and especially for the Kandyan spectators. As Muttiah Muralitharan was inching close to a world record of being the highest Test Wicket Taker. On the second day’s play, the scenic and peaceful ground had suddenly transformed into a cauldron of bubbling tensions. The swelling crowd at Kandy waited with bated breath for its favorite son, Muttiah Muralitharan, to break Shane Warne’s record for the most Test Wickets. Murali needed just 5 wickets to rewrite the world record under his name surpassing the great Australian leg spinner Shane Warne who had clinched 708 wickets. He drew level with Warne when he had Ravi Bopara caught down the leg side on the second afternoon, but was forced to wait due to the rain interrupting the play. Finally, the reality-altering experience arrived when Murali, bowling from around the wicket, spun it past Collingwood to shatter his timber. In fact, the batsman had played down the wrong line, as he didn’t pick the delivery that went the other way, a delivery which Murali was renowned for, the doosra. As Kandy’s favorite son, Muttiah Muralitharan broke the world record, there was celebration all over the place. Firecrackers were burst amidst wild jubilation. The usually serene ground at Kandy had transformed into one big party. He set the world record in his 116th test match well before Shane Warne who claimed the record in his 145th. The commentator David Lloyd expressed this historical occasion, ‘’Bowled him, there we go,Great scenes here, History is made it has been a long long time coming.There will be great scenes here in Kandy. A world record, and it’s never ever to be got anywhere near.Firecrackers all around the ground. This game has come to a stop.709 wickets for Muttiah Muralitharan. The greatest ever wicket-taker in Test Match Cricket” David Lloyd 2007 was a very special year for the Sri Lankan cricketing fraternity because of Murali’s world record, and more importantly, it was the 25th year after Sri Lanka gained Test Status way back in 1982, thanks to the immense contribution by our very own late Mr Gamini Dissanayake. And, it was surely a special occasion for Trinity for two reasons. First, Asgiriya had the privilege to be a part of the world record, which no one has ever got close enough to challenge; and second, Murali was the home town boy coming from non-other than St. Anthony’s College Katugastota, a school that shares a cricketing legacy with Trinity over 100 long years. Murali talked about this historical occasion with gleaming pride: “I am thrilled to have reached the landmark in my home town with all my family and close friends in the ground to watch me — it is a very special moment” -BBC 2007 This particular game was full of records and history, all of it will be covered in the second instalment to this article. Article by Shaahid Khaleel Bibliography: Ramaraj, B., 2013. Muttiah Muralitharan breaks Shane Warne’s record of most Test wickets at his homeground Kandy. [online] Cricket Country. Available at: https://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/muttiah-muralitharan-breaks-shane-warnes-record-of-most-test-wickets-at-his-homeground-kandy-71565 [Accessed 14 April 2021]. Main Image: Cricketcountry.com. 2013. [online] Available at: https://www.cricketcountry.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Sri-Lankan-bowler-Muttiah-Muralitharan-celebrates-after-taking-his-World-Record-709th-Test-wicket.jpg [Accessed 19 April 2021]. Reuters Staff, 2007. Muralitharan reclaims test wicket world record. [online] Reuters. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-30797420071203 [Accessed 14 April 2021]. Video: Record Breaking Ball By Murali for 709th Wicket
“Your Excellency, ladies, and gentlemen,My great predecessors could not in their time,Make a flattering speech through the channels of rhyme.They poured forth a poem of ponderous prose,In sentiments stilted and phrases verbose.But a promising poet in me you shall see,As after my speech you will all agree. With loud acclamation and thunderous applause,We welcome you here to our College becauseStaunch is the loyalty that bids us awaitThe King’s representative here in our state.We welcome your lady but where is Miss Joan?I’m getting a wee bit familiar I own,But by nature I’m gallant and surely I oughter,Find a good rhyme for the Governor’s daughter. Through this island of ours, you’ve gone wide and far,I read that in Jaffna you smoked a cigar,Though the road takes you East, though the road takes you West,Here in Kandy, you’ll find the School that is the best. And now that you’ve heard the speech of the wise,And now that I’ve lauded you up to the skies,And now that you’ve listened in startled surprise,And commented perhaps on my stature and size. And now that I know my friends will all say,“Come on, Marambe, never say die!”At least they, like the Assyrian, in Red, Blue, and Gold,I ask for one holiday hoping that youWill certify strongly that we shall have two!!” – Vote of Thanks delivered by the Senior Prefect T.B. Marambe, at the College Prize Giving held in the Quadrangle on February 1938. This was the first time the Vote of Thanks was proposed in verse at a Prize Giving. The speech was composed by Mr. Oswin Wright, a senior member of the College staff. The Chief Guest for the Prize Giving was Sir Andrew Caldecott, the Governor of Ceylon at the time (1937), to whom the poem is mainly addressed. Please note, the Prize Giving was usually held in the Old College Main Hall until the year 1940, except for the 1937 Prize Giving which was held in 1938. (Centenary volume pg. 424) One of the minor highlights at the Prize Day has been the Vote of Thanks by the Senior Prefect. It has always been the convention that he not only makes laudatory remarks about the chief guest but also asks for the customary Prize Day Holiday. After years of this practice, Senior Prefects have always found new and creative ways of framing the request. Some of them have, in trying to be different and score a march over their predecessors, asked for two days and on one occasion even three days as holiday. It is generally agreed, however, that in all these efforts, though not on Prize Day, it’s notable when the Senior Prefect (1945) Jim Cooke who made to Mr. Campbell here on a short visit in 1945 the briefest and the most irresistible appeal of all “Sir we wish you a happy holiday, we hope you wish us the same”. Article by Shaahid Khaleel.
Seen in the picture above are Duncan White, Lakshman Kadirgamar, M.A.M. Sherrif and Oscar Wijesinghe, representing the four communities (Burgher, Tamil, Muslim, Sinhalese), who had brought four scrolls to the Independence square on 4th February 1948 to be handed over to the Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake to read for the public. It was in the same year Sri Lanka made her début at the XIV Olympic Games in London where in the final of the 400m Hurdles Duncan White, though beaten by Roy Cochran of USA to second place, lowered the existing Olympic record skimming over the hurdles in 51.8 secs. Thus getting the first medal to Independent Sri Lanka at an international sporting event. Read more about White at: Duncan White, the first athlete to win an Olympic medal for Sri Lanka Lakshman Kadirgamar who is considered one of the most successful foreign ministers Sri Lanka was also an Athletic Champion! Kadirgamar won the 110m Hurdles event at the Public Schools Meet and later won the Nationals in 1951. At the All India and Ceylon Inter University Athletic Meet he again won the above event.
Looking back at a proud Trinity history, many names have been involved in setting down the foundations of the true spirit of Trinity.Amongst these great personalities, Miss Valesca Reimann was someone who helped Trinity in every way possible to achieve the reputation College holds at present. She was an astonishing and adventurous woman who is considered a legend in Trinity history. At a time where education is limited to textbooks, this remarkable character showed how education spreads beyond books. Reimann, with a Masters degree in Arts Her story starts in Adelaide, South Australia in 1888. She was born to a musical family that was said to have German origins. Her father was a music teacher and he later established the College of Music in Adelaide (Australia’s first). Miss Reimann, a sister among three siblings, majored in arts, obtaining her Master of Arts degree from the University of Adelaide. The course of Miss Reimann’s life was changed dramatically in 1915 when Reverend A.G. Fraser, the Principal of Trinity, visited Australia for the Australian student Christian movement. Getting down men to Sri Lanka for special purposes was a task close to impossible due to the war. Because of this, the Principal asked Miss Reimann to join the staff as the head Classics teacher. Her appointment was only meant for two years, but it extended to 30 years because of her dedication to Trinity. An adventurous journey to Ceylon She left Adelaide on Christmas eve in 1915 to travel to Ceylon. The ship she was sailing on, the RMS “Omrah” sprung a leak on the way – Her journey to Ceylon starting in the same adventurous spirit that would continue throughout her time at Trinity. She reached Ceylon on the 7th of January 1916 and spent her first day in Galle. Here Miss Reimann mentions her first experience of the local food: “For lunch we had a most curious curry. First we helped ourselves to plenty of rice. We added curried meat with gravy, like a thick stew, then several curried vegetables and a very hot mixture of onions, pounded chillies and ground coconut called “Sambal”. Finally, over the whole mixture we sprinkled coconut and added some hot chutney and plantain. Luckily I did not take much as I found it very hot and my eyes began to stream” All the Ganagways are up – Valesca Reimann Encountering many new experiences and learning a lot of new things about the country, she made her way to Kandy by train. During the journey she met one of the Sinhalese College masters, who she says, “had an unpronounceable name of six syllables and fifteen letters!” She met the College Principal for the second time at the Kandy station waiting to welcome her. She was to live with a missionary family bungalow in the College compound. Her diaries are very interesting due to the detailed recording of her many encounters in Sri Lanka, and specifically her days at Trinity. She visited many places, famously travelling to Matale and Dambulla by bicycle, and collected a vast amount of knowledge on Sri Lankan culture. Below is a transcribed hand-drawn map of her travel destinations: Life at College She joined the Trinity community to teach the higher forms western classics, mathematics and English, and later trained the choir and played the piano in Chapel. During her time she was probably the most familiar figure in the school for there was no activity that she ever missed, be it a society meeting or a house match, helping to edit the College magazine, organizing the Glee Club, and taking part committees. She had a talent for observation and humour: ” The use of the handkerchief is rare. A College boy thinks nothing of sniffing hard right through a lesson. I found it very unpleasant at first, but one gets hardened to it.” “I hear that one of our boys has received a telegram: “Uncle expiring. Funeral tomorrow.” and next it is followed by another: “Uncle recovering. Funeral postponed.” She was such an amazing woman that neither her race nor her gender affected how the boys or the staff saw her. However, her presence changed to the attitude towards women in the minds of the students and adults. With other women members of the staff, she attended the jubilee dinner, and, following this example, quite a number of old boys brought their wives and sisters, an unheard of thing 10 years previously. ‘I think,’ said Miss Reimann, ‘that it has been a jolly good thing to have one or two women in the boys’ school, and to let the boys see how European women treat them. It has reacted tremendously on their attitude to their own women’. Later on Miss Reimann was called upon to write the College history, and together with the widespread reputation of her at that time, she was rewarded with a General Lion, being the first, and so far the only, woman to receive a General Lion in Trinity’s history. Listed below are a few of the other early pioneers who had received General Lions: 1915 – ST. L H De Zylva, R C Edwards, Rev A G Fraser, G A Halangoda, A C Houlder, C P Jayawardene, G R Mulgrue, W Olegesegeram, C E Simithraaratchy 1919 – H Dedigama, H E Garvin, Rev L J Gaster, M Maung Gyi, H W Mediwake, A Paynter, P D Pelpola, Sgt. Rignell, V C Schokman, D B Seneviratne, M Tun Tin 1922 – H R V Johnson 1923 – R R Breckenridge We also found probably the only available letter handwritten by Miss Reimann: It is clear that she helped Trinity to achieve her now famous golden days alongside Principal Fraser. Miss Reimann is not spoken about much during recent times, but her name can be considered as one of the pillars which hold up the present day Trinity community, alongside other unspoken Trinity heroes! “Trinity College will build on its heritage and goes to greater heights in the new millennium. The motto of Trinity is
