Old is Gold
The first Royal–Thomian cricket match played between Royal College, Colombo (at that time called Colombo Academy) and S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia was played on 15–17 July 1879 at the old Army Grounds, which is today the site of the Taj Samudra Hotel. Colombo Academy won the inaugural encounter by 56 runs.
Additional read on the 1st Royal Thomian confirming it was played not at Galle Face Green rather the old Army grounds ; the Church still stands behind Hotel Taj.
May 17th 1938, William Thomas Keble, staff member of STC Mount Lavinia founded the nation’s first preparatory school in Kollupitiya and served as its first Head Master. This photo was taken on the first day outside the Fortrose hostel building.
1946 - STC Choir
With Thanks to Roger Aldons - 1951-52 Choir
Warden and Staff (1958) - with gratitude to the late Mr. & Mrs. Burder and to all who contributed names of the Staff. You may have seen a previous post with gaps ; that 'work in progress' piecing together and verifying names made possible due to the efforts of Mr. Ferdinands (STC office staff), David Sansoni, Milroy Berenger, John Pearce & Corinne King (nee Pereira & daughter of Mr. D.N. Pereira). The masterpiece is now complete!
1962 Boxing Team - Photo courtesy Mohan Gooneratne
Circa 1962 - rare find from S Thomas College Prep school magazine. Sender unknown though thanks to Rajkumar Karunairatnam for verifying authenticity and year.
STC Bandarawela
Photo courtesy Ken Hillman & Roger Aldons
1963 Photo courtesy Ananda Amaranath
1964
1964 - Thomian Hockey Team. Schools Hockey Champions
1964 - Thomian Tennis Team
Photo credit Eddie Appathurai
Click image for details - Ronnie Reid 1957 Photo courtesy: Michael Roberts
Digitally Enhanced 2021 Courtesy Ravi Rudra
The season ended by winning the Royal Thomian encounter!
STC 1970 Cricket Team
STC 1971 Cricket Team
STC 1978 Cricket Team
STC 1979 Cricket Team
STC 1980 Cricket Team
ENGLISH LITERARY & DEBATING SOCIETY 1970/71 ; Standing L-R: S. Sivasothy, D.A. Sansoni. Seated L-R: N.M. Don Mohanlal (Leader), S.J. Anandanayagam Esq (Warden), D.N. Pereira Esq (Master-in-charge), D. Lappen.
Jan F.W.A.H. Prins Esq (full name: Jan Frederick Wilhelmus Adolf Hortensius Prins). Secretary to five Wardens at STC ; served for 48 years (1926-1973). (The day he died had been the date of the Prize-Giving. He had ensured all was in order. He died suddenly, that evening at home. **With Thanks to David Sansoni for preserving this archive
Since leaving College, our 'Richaa' played club cricket at the highest level in SL & NZ. Domiciled in Sydney since 1999 he is still actively involved ( former Sydney OBA President) in cricket having also served as the inaugural Over 50s World Cup Cricket Chairman in 2018.
Reid boys with Dear Mum
STC 1973 Cricket Team
STC 1972 Cricket Team – Captained by Duleep Mendis.
STC 1971 Cricket Team - Captained by Ravi Sathasivam
Attached above is the original, official and definitive photograph of the STC Staff, 1958.
The STC OBA NSW/ACT was gifted a copy, sometime between 2007 and 2009, by Mr. V.D. Burder. The 'editorial' team endeavoured, most earnestly, to caption the photograph. Contributions, suggestions, guesses...came in from far and wide...and were collated. Although many gaps remained, the photograph was too precious to set aside.
It was published in a Dance Souvenir of that era. Since then, a goodly group of Thomians has worked hard and smart, intermittently, to complete the essential task of naming our respected gurus.
Mid-2020, the blanks were filled in! You will note, a few gentlemen have more than one name assigned to them. This fact serves to acknowledge the uncertainty that still surrounds this treasure.
Website acknowledgement - With Thanks to David Sansoni.
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From the personal collection of L.A.H. Arndt Esq, STC Staff 1943-1963, with thanks to his sons Peter and Timothy (UK).
Since commencement of the Sydney OBA website in 2020, we posed a challenge to fill in the missing names! Some of the responses were are follows : 9. Dharamadasa 11. D Wanigasekera (office staff) 12. Arul Vedamuttu 13. Mr. Sachithanandan 31. D Kumarasinghe 32. Jinadasa. If you can help further kindly send to : stcoba.nswact.official@gmail.com
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Yet another opportunity to help fill in the gaps. Kindly send your responses to: stcoba.nswact.official@gmail.com