This article was originally published in a TCK Centenary Group’s newsletter In February this year (2018) when I joined a group from the Colombo Branch of the TCK OBA for the presentation of “Smart Boards” to the College Kindergarten, my mind went back to 1959. That was 59 years ago when I sat on the floor in the old Kindergarten hall; with the cement coloured in red, gold and blue oval lines, huddled together among a bunch of anxious five year olds. Sixty six boys were admitted to the lower Kindergarten of Trinity that year. Though the old Kindergarten hall is no more, replaced by the “Centenary Block” and most of the lovable old teachers gone to the great beyond, the feeling of being back in my boy hood home was dream like even for a 64 year old! It was wistful nostalgia for the entire group that went up to Kandy for this presentation. Walking up to the Main hall car park from the Kindergarten, we found the physical environment of TCK changed and different to what it was half a century ago. We lamented the demolition of the quaint old “Mission House”, TCK’s very first home, for a grotesque concrete monstrosity to stand there instead. We also admired some of the new developments that have retained the overall architectural character of the school campus. Above all, what was heartening was to learn that the Grand Old School appears to be in safe hands, well and healthy, at the ripe old age of 146. It was the five year olds of 1959 and the many friends who joined us on the way through Junior, Middle and Upper School that grew to be the 18 year olds to hold aloft the red, gold and blue banner in 1972 when TCK celebrated her centenary. We were small in number then. In 1959 the entire school may have had a thousand boys on roll. Even by 1972, we numbered 1500 more or less, with some A Level classes counting 6-7 boys ! Hence to make the “TCK Centenary Group” as we call ourselves, large enough to be a movement of impact, it was agreed that all who were in the 5th form, lower and upper sixth form classes (grades 10,11 and 12) in 1972, be included in it. What a wonderful agreement that was! The camaraderie that prevailed at TCK cut across a few years difference in age or grade. With almost two hundred in our group we are now a happy and proud arm of the larger TCK family, wrapped together in the red, gold and blue standard. As for this column, I was somewhat taken aback when our dear friend and evergreen Trinitian Channa Jayawickrama called me from Kandy a few weeks ago asking me to write a piece for the group newsletter. Momentarily I asked myself, why me did Channa call? After all, we had amongst us Ajith Samaranayake, the boy who was destined to be one of the finest English journalists in Asia, DMG (Dimma) Dissanayake, Ubayasena Banda and many others whose literary contributions while school boys were good enough for national publications. They could have “out written” me by “leaps and bounds”. Then sad stark reality struck me. Of the names I mention, they have all crossed the great divide and it is left to lesser mortals like me to chip-in in the absence of the better. I am unable in this article to make reference to all those from our group who have moved on to the great beyond. Perhaps that is done elsewhere in this newsletter. I cannot however, restrain myself from making reference to the likes of the two Rohans (Alawattegama and Paranawitharana) who left us far too early in life, Rugby Lion Y. S. Ping, that steel hardened Napierite P. Maheswaran whose death was a surprise to us all, and the rough and tumble Shathi Bahar. Shanti having enlisted with the Navy sacrificed his life in battle for the sovereignty of Sri Lanka. The portrait of Commander Bahar now adorns the walls of the OTSC in Asgiriya with some of the finest Trinitians who left their imprint on the sands of time. In writing this piece, I thought it best to go down memory lane to 1972 and recall how we celebrated our Centenary. It was an event looked forward to by the entire Trinity family. From Thanksgiving services to exhibitions and carnivals, drama festivals and a city walk to cap it all! All activities were organized by a group of dedicated old boys, teachers and the boys themselves. “Event Managers” were not around then! Forgetfulness compelled me to seek assistance from the College archives and fading photographs in my own albums. The celebrations began in November 1971, to coincide with a visit to then Ceylon by the Rt. Revd R.W. Stopford, former Principal (1935-41). He was by then the Lord Bishop of London. There was a traditional Thanksgiving service presided over by the good Bishop at the College Chapel. What preceded the service was a spectacular procession (city walk) from the Hall to the Chapel, winding its way down D. S. Senanayake Street, Kande Veediya, Kotugodella Veediya, Cross Street, back to D. S. Senanayake Street and to the Chapel. It was led by the Senior Prefect Ravindra Sangakkara carrying the College flag. Ravindra, later a Professor of Agriculture at Peradeniya met with a fatal accident just over a year ago; we remember him with affection. The procession represented the entire Trinity family; from former Principals, staff, old boys, minor staff and, the boys walking under their “House” flags. I vividly recall the lanky athlete G. T. A. Samaranayake now in the USA, Rugby Lion Jeffery Yu now in Canada, the amiable Ajith Senewiratne now in Australia, that steely rugby inside three-quarter Tissa Dissanayake now in retirement from the hotel industry, and myself leading the boys, carrying the Garett, Lemuel, Alison, Napier and Ryde flags respectively. What a show that procession was;
