In Memoriam: Staff of Yesteryear

Miss L.A.L. Blanchard

By R.L.Hayaman

Dr.R.L. hayman was one time Headmaster of S. Tomas’ College, Gurutalawa. He was attached to Prep. School from its inception. He was a local manager of this school. He knew Miss blanchard very well and in fact he and Mrs. Hayman were like foster parents to her during her retirement in England. In this article Dr. Hayman portrays Miss. Blanchard very vividly, and places before the reader the work and character of this great lady.

Miss Blanchard took a large part in the foundation of the two S. Thomas’ Prep. Schools and with her death they lose a very loyal friend. She died of intestinal trouble followed by bronchial pneumonia and was only ill for about three days. She maintained her clearness of mind right up to the end, and was delighted when she got news of her Prep. School friends. She maintained a large correspondence with them. Her hand writing hardly changed as she grew older despite the effects of arthritis in their joints.

Mr. W. Keble had always wished to found an up country branch of the Prep. School and when the Navy commandeered the Kollupitiya branch, he had the incentive and the opportunity to act in the matter. He depended on Miss Blanchard to assist him the preparation for the opening of the school in Bandarawela and to take over much of the work concerned with the running of it.

In the course of time she took over the keeping of school accounts, teaching singing, making sweets, cakes for the tuck shop, providing boarding accommodation in her cottage and many other tasks.

Indeed, she not only built “Little Thatch” her cottage, at her own expense, but she also contributed a large sum of money towards the purchase of the land on which it and the “Farm” were built.

In her holidays her only companion in “Little Thatch” was her cat “Mischief” and despite more than one burglary she was never afraid to live alone. One burglar demanded her money through an open window and was difficult to persuade that she had nothing more than 50 cents. When at last he accepted her statement he vanished in the darkness calling over his shoulder “Cherio”. Previous to this, most of her small store of jeweler had been stolen, but she had the unusual good fortune to have a black opal ring returned some years after it was taken, whether the thief’s conscience pricked him or whether he thought the opal had brought bad luck I do not know.

She had many other adventures which would have deterred most people from living alone. Once, single-handed, she had to drive a herd of buffaloes out of her garden where they were destroying the fruits of her labours. Another time she could not find Mischief, then a kitten. In the end she looked out of the back door and saw her advancing slowly and deliberately towards a large cobra with its hood raised. They were only a couple of yards apart and Miss Blanchard, without hesitation dived forward, snatched up the kitten and backed into the cottage shutting the door behind her. Not many
People woke have taken such a risk, but she did not stop there, but decided to drive the snake away. Taking a bottle of kerosene in her hand she opened the door and slung the contents over the snake. It beat a hurried retreat and was not seen again.

When she was not engaged in such adventures she pursued her way quietly, never refraining from any task that would assist the smooth running of the school. She was very adept at reading out loud and the boarders in Little Thatch were always eager to hear her reading the adventures of the children in Arthur Ransom’s books.

Her piano was always at the disposal of the school and she herself was also an{ accomplished pianist and had a beautiful singing voice. She was so preoccupied with all these activities that she neglected her own needs and if left to herself did not bother to have good meals until the doctor put his foot down and insisted on her feeding more adequately.

She was a devout Christian and never doubted, even in the most trying circumstances, that God would see everything should work for good in the long run. When she left Bandarawela and came to England she had only a minute income, far less than the normal expenditure of such a person as herself. Vet, as things turned out she not only’ made ends meet, but actually had a small but useful balance in the bank as a result! of help from the department of Social Security. This made her very happy beaters she had dreaded that she might become a burden to her friends.

In her last years her great interest was in the progress of another Keble, and one of another Keble, and one of the highlights of that period was attending his wedding, and another was visiting his house in London after he left Canada to make a home in England. It makes us sad that she died only three days before Anthony’s son was born. She had so looked forward to seeing the baby and had even been knitting some warm ‘woolies’ for him before she died.

So, a dear friend has parted from us, one who never faltered in the service to the Prep. School and to Sri Lanka, and one who had no enemies but rather a host of friends made in the half century following her arrival in Ceylon.

Miss. Lydia Blanchard entered into eternal rest on September 25th, 1976 at the age of 93 years

Mr. David Edirisinghe

Mr. David Edirisinghe served the School for a period of almost 16 years, having joined the Staff at the time of Mr.W.T.Keble, the founder-Headmaster of our school. Mr. Edirisinghe’s sudden death on 18th February 1963 was a great shock to his colleagues, and to all those who knew him. Today a fair assessment of his work here is possible.

In a sense, Mr. Edirisinghe was a pioneer of the Prep. School, Bandarawela, for he joined Mr. Keble when the rolling patinas and a few make-dos shed was our home! We had hardly any buildings then, and the traditions of the Bandarawela branch were just being forged amidst the bustle of make shift arrangements and the British fighting a World War! Our buildings in Kollupitiya had been commandeered by the British for the Royal Air Force, and Mr. & Mrs. Keble and Miss Blanchard had to evacuate to a garage.

Then came the shift to Bandarawela and the challenge for men who would work; and it was at such a time that Mr. Edirisinghe joined Mr. Keble. At the time of his death Mr. Edirisinghe was Senior Master at the Prep. School and the chief adviser to the Headmaster.

Mr. Edirisinghe was also Senior Master of Hulugalle House and in this capacity he did useful service. His Wednesday Sinhala Seminars in the school Chapel were much appreciated, and Mr. Edirisinghe will be missed by his colleagues and the boys.

Mr. P. B. Ratnayake: A Model of Devotion to Duty

When the icy hand of death as a bolt from the blue suddenly snatched him away from our midst in February, Mr. P.B. Ratnayake - affectionately referred to as RB. - had become part of a legend; a legend that becomes all the more significant by the length of service of his dedicated personality who helped create it - a length of service that is unprecedented, in that no other staff member in the history of the school has for his/her credit, a period of service anything as long, a period that spanned over half the life-span of the man him self This unassuming, mild-mannered, soft-spoken gentleman was much loved and respected by all sections of the school community - parents, teachers, students and the minor staff.

As Secretary and Bursar of the school, P.B. was in charge of operations of the “nerve- centre” of the school. In this respect, he was indeed the Head’s “right hand man” as the Headmaster aptly described PB. The fact that P.R. performed this double-role as Secretary cum Bursar with great acceptance is a signal demonstration of the implicit faith and trust reposed upon him by the Head and also a glowing tribute to P.R’s honesty and integrity.

As Senior Hostel Master before his marriage, PB. won the confidence of parents when he showed genuine concern and care for the hostellers entrusted to his care. The kindness yet firmness with which P.R. discharged his duties in this capacity enabled the hostel to grow up in a wholesome atmosphere.

PB. never failed to be a source of encouragement and inspiration to the boys of Keble House of which he was the Senior House Master. In all their House activities the Kebleites looked up to him for his guidance and advice.

Long before his health began to fail him, P.B. willingly offered his services to the school in the field of games too, where he was a coach and master-in-charge of Cricket and Hockey. The teams on many an occasion did themselves proud under the guidance of this energetic man who was a colors man from Kingswood College, Kandy, during its hey-day.

As a colleague on the staff of the school, P.3. held the responsible position of President of the Staff Guild on a number of occasions, and his advice and opinions as a senior colleague on the staff, were greatly regarded- He was ever willing to lend a helping hand to any colleague who was in dire need. Amidst all his numerous and exacting school duties, PB. remained essentially a family man. He was a dutiful father and a faithful husband. At the time of his death, he had made sure that his family was well provided for, the school has sustained a great loss, and the void created by his absence can never be adequately filled. Though P.3. is no more with us, he will continue to live in our hearts always.

A Colleague

Mr. G. C. G. Peiris

Godfrey Charles Gregory Peiris, fondly referred to as Gods”. By his very intimate friends on the 5taff, joined the Staff of the school in July 1957. At his untimely death at the age of 47, Mr. Peiris had completed 20 years of service in the School. Considering the fact that the School is only 35 years old, this is indeed a unique achievement, and none other on the Staff has rendered a longer period of service.

During the 20 years of his life at school, he entered fully into the life of the school and as a senior member of the Staff there was no school activity in which his influence was not felt.
Mr. Peiris will ever be remembered as an exceptionally talented teacher. He got himself trained as an English teacher and dedicated himself to the cause of teaching the young. As an English teacher he had rendered yeoman service in raising the standard of English in the School. At the 1975 N.C.G.E. Exanimation all his students obtained distinctions in English and at the 1976 N.C.G.E. too, all but one obtained distinctions. As a teacher he commanded respect and was looked up to as one who had gone through much experience. Many a student has spoken of the “German injections” that he used to administer on them as punishment.

In drama his talents were noteworthy. De Saram house, of which he was the Senior House Master, had stood in the forefront of dramatics many a time. ‘The Golden Touch” and “Cox and Box” were two of the best dramas that he produced.
Mr. Peiris possessed a commanding voice which added much to his personality. It is at Inter House Athletic Meets that parents, teachers and students will miss Mr. Peiris’ arresting voice over the mike as an announcer. With his deep voice he was able, literally, to run an entire Meet over the mike. His resonant voice also stood him in good stead at Carol Services where he was an effective bass. At community singing and at ‘get-togethers’ Mr. Peiris led the singing.

Mr. Peiris also served as coach to the School Under 12 and Under 14 Cricket teams for a number of years. During these years, he was able to inspire confidence and maintain high morale amongst the team members that they were able to pull off many an exciting victory.

In appreciation of his long years of dedicated service to the School and to perpetuate his memory in a fitting manner, the dormitory in the Harold de Soyza Block has been named “Godfrey Peiris Dormitory’’.

F.R. Joseph

Mrs. Malar Anandanayagam

Mrs. Malar Anandanayagarn was the most senior teacher in the School. She joined the staff in 1962 as an Assistant English Teacher. Prior to her marriage she has served as Teacher in charge of Edirisinghe Dormitory from its inception.

She played an active role on the life of the School. She has served as class teacher for long years. As an English trained teacher she laid the foundation for the students to make progress.

She served as House Mistress of De Saram House and is still remembered by her students for the excellent work done in Hut decorations during the Sports Meet.

She continued to serve the School and was one of the Supervisors of the Primary School.

Mrs. Merlyn Peiris

Mrs. Merlyn Peiris joined the Staff as an Assistant Teacher. She has served as Teacher in charge of the dormitory before her marriage. She has also served as Class Teacher and House Mistress. She left S. Thomas’ College, Bandarawela in 1974 after completing her training in English to join Government Service.

She rejoined the staff in 1986 and served as Supervisor of the Middle School in addition to her teaching.

Mr. Francis Reggie Joseph

Mr. Reggie Joseph joined the Staff in 1964 as Office Assistant. Considering his qualities the late Headmaster, Mr. S.L.A. Ratnayake, with far vision, requested Mr. Joseph to teach English.

Mr. Joseph got himself trained as an English teacher and rendered yeoman service to maintain the standard of English among the students. His students at the G.C.E. O/L) examination continued to obtain distinction passes from 1978.

In addition to class work, he was the cricket coach for a number of years. He was also the Senior House Master of Hayman House and he was appointed as the Prefect of Games in 1977.

In 1981 he was appointed as the Upper School Supervisor and Prefect of discipline; the posts he held until he left the Island in 1990.

He organized the first school level Leo Club of the Island in Bandarawela for the senior students of S. Thomas’ College, Bandarawela, which produces fine leaders of the School and the community. He was awarded the Most Outstanding Advisor Award for his services to youth.

Mr. Mithra Edirisinghe

Mr. Edirisinghe, an Old Boy, joined the Staff in October 1966 as Stores Manager. He is the eldest son of the late Mr. David Edirisinghe, a Senior Teacher of the School.

During his tenure, Mr. Edirisinghe played an active role in the life of the School, He was one of the pioneer members of the School Badminton Club which produced the Island’s Number One Shutters; Ravi Kuruppu and Niroshan Wijekoon are few to name. Mr. Edirisinghe was also in charge of the School Hostel from early days.

He worked under the late Headmaster, Mr.S.L.A. Ratnayake and continued to help Mr. D.B. Welikala during his office as Headmaster.

Mr. Edirisinghe was elevated to the post of Secretary in 1983 in addition to his responsibilities as Senior Hostel Master. He was also appointed Prefect of Games in 1985.

He made a yeoman contribution to the life of the College and left the School to join the mercantile sector in 1989. He continued to assist the School after leaving it.

Mr. Ananda Alahakone

Mr. Ananda Alahaicone left us in May to take up an executive appointment in the Edna Group of Industries, after a period of 13 years of devoted and dedicated service in the School. This period of years has seen the great development of the School from the status of a primary school to that of a collegiate school, and, it is while measuring his services against the background of this development that Ananda’s contribution to the school stands out.

Mr. Alahakone was a conscientious teacher, and as the school gradually progressed towards secondary school status, he progressively took up teaching Sinhala and Social Studies in the highest class in the school. The number of distinctions the students achieved at G.C.E.(O/L) speak eloquently for the devotion with which he taught his pupils. In 1980, when the school reached collegiate status Mr. Alahakone was placed in charge of Grade 11 Sinhalese, where he also taught Economics. In the expansion and development of the school, it was not building that mattered but the contributions of conscientious, devoted and dedicated teachers like Mr. Alahakone that brought credit to the institution.

In 1976, the University of Sri Lanka selected Mr. Alahakone to follow a course in the Diploma of Education. Having come back to school after successfully completing the course, Mr. Alahakone was the first trained graduate on that staff and was a great asset to the school. In 1980, in recognition of his academic studies and his contribution to the school, The Headmaster appointed him Supervisor of the Collegiate Section. He carried out his duties in this capacity efficiently and to the entire satisfaction of the Headmaster. It is not an exaggeration to say that Mr. Ananda Alahakone and Badminton are synonymous. Ever since the Badminton Club was formed in the school for the first time, and Mr. Alahakone was put in charge of Badminton, he put his heart and soul in training the young lads who were subsequently to become great players of the country. To Mr. Alahakone belongs the credit of having to put the name of our school in the Badminton map of Sri Lanka, for today the country acknowledges our school as one of the leading schools in this sport. In 1974 the school won the national titles under all age groups, and that speaks glowingly of his efforts and labours. In addition to being the Secretary for the Uva Badminton Association, he has also been the tournament secretary of the Sri Lanka Schools Badminton Association, and on his shoulders fell the onerous task of organizing zonal and final rounds of the tournaments, which he performed skillfully and with acceptance. In recognition of his capabilities, he was placed Master-in-Charge of the Sri Lanka Badminton Team to Bangkok in November 1980.

From the day of his appointment, Mr. Alahakohe has been a hostel master and as such was able to enter fully into all aspects of the school. He knew almost all the students individually by their names. As a hostel master he was sympathetic to the problems of the hostellers while remaining firm when the need arose in the interest of the school.

As Senior House Master of De Saram House, Mr. Alahakone was a source of great inspiration to the De Saramites in all their House activities, and I am sure the De Sararnites, with very good reasons, consider his services to the House as unparalleled. The Sinhalese plays that he produced for the Inter House Drama Contests were of an exceptionally high standard.

He was also co-editor of the school magazine for many years, and the Sinhalese articles in the magazine bear testimony to his labours in going through them and making selections. With the members of the staff he was always popular, for which he was elected President of the Staff Guild in 1980.

At a general assembly of the school held in labour of Mr. Alahakone and to bid farewell to him, the Headmaster paid a glowing tribute to Mr. Alahakone’s dedication and his absolute loyalty to the school and the Head of the institution. The Headmaster presented a colored, enlarged photograph of the school to Mr. Alahakone - a fitting memento to a man who had spent a third of his life unto that time, to help in its development and a man who had, in return, drawn out so much from it to develop his own talents and personality.

A Colleague

Mrs. Vignes Joseph

We were sad to hear that Mrs. Vignes Joseph had left the Island for Oman, when the school reopened in January 1989, after a long closure.

Miss Vignes (as she is known) joined the school in 1967, I think when our school was only the Prep. School. She was teaching English in the lower classes and was also in charge of Wijewardene Dormitory, if I am not mistaken.

She married Mr. Reggie Joseph, another dedicated teacher, in 1970.

As the school was growing she was asked to teach in the upper classes. When we reached collegiate status she was appointed the middle school supervisor; the post held by her until her leaving in 1988.

She has been one of the great teachers the school has had during its life of 46 years. Apart from her teaching, she was in charge of Hayman house which emerged the champions in many competitions during her stewardship. Its a great loss to the school as well as to the country when it needs people of her caliber especially in English education.

Past student and Haymanite

Mr. Markandan joined the staff of S. Thomas’ College, Bandarawela, in the late 50’s. A keen sportsman, he was the Master in Charge and coach of various games such as football, cricket and athletics.

The school team won several championships under his training. His students still remember the enjoyment and get-togethers organized after the victories.

The organization of the annual inter house athletics championships at the tiny school grounds by Mr. Markandan is still admired by his colleagues.

He was appointed Prefect of Games of the school in addition to his responsibilities as Master in Charge of Keble Dormitory and teacher of Hinduism.

He left school in 1970.