ROYAL - THOMIAN..... MORE TO IT THAN BAT &
BALL
The general belief is only the two teams that
undergo a lot of preparations before the big encounter-be it the
51st, 75th, 100th or the 125th - since only the performance of
cricketers are known to the public.
Behind the scenes, both at Royal and at S.
Thomas' a lot of activity takes place. Those of us who have been in
either of the two schools - not necessarily Cricketers - arc the
only people who are aware, there is more to a Royal - Thomian than
just playing the game with bat and ball involving thirteen
schoolboys in white along with the two in black & white on the
field.
Come January of any year and as soon as school
begins for the new term, lie only known phrase in the mouths of
teachers and students is the all important Royal - Thomian match.
I was privileged to be
deeply involved (not playing) in organizing one such match. That was
the 98th
in the series which was played at the Oval, now known as the P.
Saravanamuttu Stadium, a picturesque cricket grounds, then the only
one in which unofficial test matches were played. As the Head
Prefect of my alma the responsibility of everything to do with
ground arrangements to ticket selling and of course, the co-ordinating
of the all important Cycle parade was .pen my shoulders. With the
help of nearly 50 prefects which I had under me, began to set about
organizing one task after another in the best way I knew.
There were no computers nor software programmes
back then that make things so easy these days. It was all manual,
including write ups for the souvenir etc. Collecting of Ads was on
bicycles, not cars. Yet undeterred were we. Compiling of the
souvenir was entrusted to a team of five prefects, three of whom
were brilliant in the queen's language with the guidance and
watchful eye of a souvenir management comprising three teachers led
by Mrs Irangani Seneviratne, one of Royal's top English teachers in
the 70's. That done and out of the way, next it was the selling of
tickets commencing with the RCU ticket draw two Sundays prior to the
match and right upto the Thursday before the big 'un. Prefects
rallied round in spite of AL's just two months away and gave of
their fullest support doing the sales. Such was the ROYAL spirit.
I must admit, there was not much variety in the
tickets, unlike nowadays with so many price tiers some of which arc
beyond the purse of an average Royalist even though its once a year.
Pavilion and visitors' tent were the only two choices for everybody
with the exception of boy's tent tickets for students as it is to
this day.
Meanwhile, the cricketers hard at practice Monday to Thursday, each
week, since the third term continued in the same vein through
January to March. All the recognized schools are played beginning
with Ananda and ending with Trinity each Friday / Saturday in
preparation for the big one. Even for these matches the prefects
were detailed for duty but on a skeletal basis.
By around early February preparations began for
the all important "Cycle Parade", an event eagerly looked forward to
by Royalists' - both young and old. A close friend of mine in school
introduced me to the late Mr Lohica de Zoysa, who was known to have
organized one of the best parades whilst still at school in 1959.
Together with Lohica and a few senior prefects ably assisted by some
senior students arrangements began. 'Papare' was the first to be
engaged, then a big truck to lead and word of mouth to as many
present and past boys to join in the fun.
Monday of the big week began with great
excitement. Whether the souvenir was coming out on time was first on
my check list By the way folks, let me digress a little here to tell
you that the souvenir in my time was not one with a glossy picture
on the front cover; neither did it have colour photos of the team as
it is now and no individual pictures of cricketers. It was just a
simple cartoon type drawing on a rough finished cover with pages
more like demi paper. However, the details it contained were no less
than what's given today (29 years on)
As for match duty, the tent committee comprised
three secretaries - the head prefect, his deputy and the next senior
most with all the other prefects. They were assisted by a set of
stewards - mainly the budding prefects and those who were not so
blessed to wear the badge. In short those considered as boys whom
the rest of the school looked upto as ones who brought honour and
fame to the school by words and deeds. The prefects and stewards
were supervised by a team of five senior teachers who were always
there for any advice or guidance and on a rare occasion for a
crisis, as it was deemed that the prefects were seasoned campaigners
of resolving conflicts by themselves.
A meeting of all including the prefects was
convened by me at the college hall on the morning of the day
previous. They were briefed of their duties, behaviour expected was
also spelled out with strict instructions to be at the grounds by
8:00 a.m. A few of us senior prefects then proceeded to the grounds
where together with our counterparts from the Thomian camp were
briefed by the RC-STC match organizing committee. That done, it was
now time for the eagerly awaited parade
It began amidst a large gathering of students
past and present but sans the school authorities for they knew well
to keep away from such events as the Royalists can be trusted to be
"at their best behaviour". The parade commenced from Racecourse
Avenue in front of the Marsh gate and took the route - Flower Road,
Green Path, Dharmapala Mawatha, Galle Road, Baudhaloka Mawatha and
then turning at Thunmulla Junction to Thimbirigasyaya and along
Thimbirigasyaya Road to Theresa's church where all vehicles stopped
and boys went on foot to the skippper's house which was down a lane
adjoining the church. It was not just a visit wish the captain and
his boys but to have a time of great fun and frolic, impanied by
"papare" music and boys dancing their hearts out. Needless to
majority of them were well oiled with spirits poured from " arakku
bothales". Some of you "do gooders" might ask 'what did you prefects
do?" Well our jurisdiction did not go beyond the gates of Royal,
particularly during Royal - Thomian time. This after all, is one
occasion where the disciplinary code is not strictly applied. It is
sad to note that the "cycle parades" are not much fun these days,
what with all the indiscipline in society, there is no room for
clean fun.
Would you believe this? When the truck which led
the parade was taking the turn from Flower Road to Green Path, the
tail of the parade was still at Marsh gate. The "blue, gold and
blue" flags streamed the streets of the parade route. They did not
however, remain strewn about like a political procession but moved
swiftly to its ultimate destination.
First day of the match dawns, prefects and
stewards all dressed in their white shirts, sleeves rolled up and
white slacks neatly creased and having on the famous straw hat
pinned with the 'blue & gold' golly wog wade in to the Oval and take
up positions, a number of them (mainly the stewards) with souvenirs
for sale and others just with bare hands or with a huge college flag
for cheering. As is customary, most of the prefects hover around the
boy's tent to control their behaviour as well as to cheer - shouting
their throats hoarse.
From the toss of the coin it was fun all the way
with Royalists taking first lease of the wicket. It was coincidental
that the two captains - Ashok J. and Ajit G. ere also athletes, the
latter in fact a brilliant long jumper and a public schools' champ
Both teams were evenly balanced and good cricket was played from the
word "GO". The match was packed to capacity both days as one did not
have to worry too much about leave and Sri Lanka back then had not
joined the global rat race; so life was easy paced. The
Royal-Thomian was the much talked about event in town every year.
Women and girls would talk of what to dress and men and boys, of
spirits to quench the thirst whilst both alike would gossip about
who was with whom at the match.
For us Prefects however, there were many matches (more like clashes)
to contain with other than cricket. There were drunken brawls,
renewing of old grudges, gang rivalry and wading on to the centre
pitch at every 50 scored by a batter or to cheer a bowler for taking
a crucial wicket. It is a known fact that the sprint is often
instigated by the prefects themselves at sensitive stages of play.
Chairs thrown at one another resulting in some bleeding profusely,
yet undeterred and feeling no pain were some of the common sights
for us. Prefects and stewards as usual were not spared, being
subject to all the vagaries of the world. Either you settle a fight
or sink with them drowning their sorrows with the brew that shines.
The old boys often lure them in to partaking in beverages that
places them in different postures and some end up as walking
chimneys . Its all done in good fun and never to repeat although
some have continued it in their later life.
At the end of each day, the prefects and stewards
who can stand on their two feet move row by row in each tent
rearranging the chairs disarranged by the spectators to ensure a
smooth How of ushering the next day. If not. the very people who
disarranged them when they were not in their proper senses the first
day. would come the next day and blast the young Royal stewards with
some uncomplimentary language for the inconvenience caused to them.
At last, it's all over with the Oval clock
showing A.00 p.m. The match thus ended, the result was an inevitable
draw (the eighth in a row). So. after two hectic days - thank God it
was only two days unlike now - it was time for the traditional
dinner in honour of Prefects and Stewards who stood tall taking in
the flak as well as the compliments in equal stride. Ours was at the
Chinese Lotus cafe on Galle Road which was well attended. 1 still
vividly remember some of the happenings but will not record them
here to save embarrassment.
All in all it was good fun, great organizing,
unforgettable experiences both on and off the field and a bag full
of memories to see one through life.
Niraj de Mel
Head Prefect (76/77)
