ROYAL - THOMIAN NEXUS IN
RETROSPECT
The College of Saint Thomas the Apostle, was founded at Mutwal by
Dr James Chapman , the first Anglican Bishop of Colombo on 3rd
February 1851 in Mutwal . He himself was a product of Eton College
and King's College Cambridge . The College motto Esto Perpetua
and the College colours Blue, Black and Blue are Etonian legends
and the naming of forms and classes at STC were set to be based on
the prestigious English Public School pattern . Royal College was
modeled to British standards too .
After having been at Mutwal for 66 years , the 1st term of 1918
saw S.Thomas' settling down in Mt Lavinia . In 1924 the legendary
Big Club ( cricket ) Grounds was declared open by Warden McPherson
as a Memorial to those who sacrificed their lives in the First
World War . The Small Club junior ground were laid in 1928 . The
Academy and Royal College shares such beginnings by pioneers .
In 1932
a former Thomian cricketer Canon R S De Saram the Sub
Warden was elevated as the Warden in Mt Lavinia, at a relatively
young age , having had a distinguished record at Keble and
Cuddestone, Oxford. He is remembered for the high level of
sportsmanship and discipline that he strictly maintained, apart
from all the development at STC Mt Lavinia in many fields . Royal
College speaks of many legends as well .
The 2nd World War disrupted life at STC Mt Lavinia and the school
had to vacate the premises on 9th April 1942, to make way for the
35th British General Hospital for Armed Services in the College
premises. The Big Match nevertheless continued without
interruption and remains the second oldest cricket fixture in the
world , after a school game in Australia . The Royal - Thomian is
a bigger worldwide social event than the one in Australia .
STC at
Gurutalawa was born on 12th May 1942 with the revered Sub Warden
Dr R L Hayman seconded as the Headmaster . STC Mount
Lavinia was relocated and flourished in Gurutalawa during the
World War Two . This brings us into an important historical fact.
In spite
of the friendly rivalry, Royal and STC have often contributed to
each others growth . In April 1916 , Royalist Edmund de Livera
wrote the five versus of our present Thomian College Song , that
was set to the music by Warden Stone . The Gurutalawa Estate was
donated by Mr Leslie De Saram a Royalist to build STC at
Gurutalawa . The Thomian fraternity is grateful to Mr Leslie De
Saram (a relative of Warden Canon R S De Saram) and Mr
Edmund de Livera .
In 1946
all but two players in the Thomian team were from STC at Guru and
the post war Thomian cricket captains 1947, 48 and 49 hailed from
Gurutalawa . In 1943 the last wicket partnership for the Royal
Thomian was broken with a Gurutalawa connection and in 1945 a
Gurutalawa bowler trained by the coach Rev A J Foster (later
Headmaster), took a hat trick in the encounter . The unique
Obstacle Course initiated by Dr Rolo Hayman made tough Thomians on
a tougher terrain . The history of Royal College records many
great strides as well .
There is no Royal without S.Thomas' and no S.Thomas' without
Royal ~ two great schools indeed .
Esto Perpetua ~ Disce aut Discede
Milinda Hettiarachchi
S. Thomas’ College
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