FROM HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT
My first memories are of the 1917 Big Match.
As a boy of 10, I remember E. A. de Kretser (Botho)
scoring 87 for Royal, and B. T. Jansz scoring the first century
in this series for S. Thomas', L. C. Khoo, of Burmese birth, was
the Royal Captain and the match was played at the Tamil Union
Grounds, Campbell Park. My most vivid memory is of a big boy
from S. Thomas', plucking a Royal flag from my hand and running
away.
I remember all the matches after that, when the
matches were played at the Sinhalese Sports Club Grounds from 1918.
On one occasion the temporary pavilion caught fire.
Another memorable match was in 1923 when
Meedeniya, bowling for Royal, captured 8 wickets for 17 runs and
Royal won with the third ball in the last over by 59 runs.
I have very vivid memories of the 1925 match in
which I played.
I must say that though the account only
mentions my score as 0, I did help to defeat S. Thomas' by an
innings and 8 runs with a catch on the legside boundary. The
newspapers characterised it as a "finished catch." The newspapers
that said so were then not under Government control.
Since I left school I have attended many Royal-Thomian
Cricket Matches and I am looking forward to witnessing the Centenary
Match in 1979.
The spirit in which the game is played and the
good comradeship among the spectators, both present and old boys,
and others, retains its atmosphere of goodwill. May these qualities
prevail forever, (esto perpetua); or. else, if we cannot learn these
lessons, depart, (disce aut discede).
J. R. JAYEWARDENE
