Appreciations

I am shocked and saddened by the untimely demise of my devoted elder brother Ralph, in Sydney on May 8, after an illness bravely borne for almost two years.

He was the second in a family of six children - three girls and three boys, born to the late James and Lena. His youngest brother Rex predeceased him 25 years ago. Having completed his education at St. Michael’s Colpetty, he joined the Basic Technical Training Institute in Ratmalana as an apprentice to follow a course in Motor Mechanism.

However, he left within a brief period and when he was just 17 1/2 years of age, he secured employment at the Mortlake Press of Whittall & Co, Colombo 2 (later Whittalls Group) where he was designated checkroll clerk and was entrusted with the task of preparing the monthly emoluments of the entire staff of the press. When he began his career, his handwriting was nothing to reckon with. With experience, his fist turned out to be excellent. Some of his contemporaries at “Mortlake Press” were Dodwell Van Dort, Albert Muspratt, Chris Wijeyesinghe, Shelton Davy, Denzil Nugara and T.D.K. Senanayake. He was also instrumental in getting me employed at Whittalls from July 1, 1960.

He married Brenda (Polly) on December 26, 1959. She is the daughter of the late Robert and Ena Diaz of Diaz Square, Hunupitiya. My brother was the bestman and she was the bridesmaid at her elder sister’s wedding and that’s how he met his future partner in life. It was love at first sight of course! They were a well knit couple and were blessed with two girls and a boy. His wife was a tower of strength, encouragement and inspiration and stood by him steadfastly, through thick and thin in all his endeavours throughout their married life.

He was an accomplished guitarist who used to strum his guitar whenever time permitted, and was also quite adept at playing a few other musical instruments. He was also the chief entertainer and performer at all our family gatherings, be it a birthday party, wedding anniversary or a get-together at Christmas time. He was quite witty too, especially when performing his famous cabaret “Marco Polo” which was one of the favourites which every member of the family eagerly looked forward to, together with other songs such as “Rasa ahara kawala” which ended up with Baila.

He left the services of Whittalls after a period of 23 years of unstinted service, to migrate to Australia. He did this mainly in order to provide his offspring with a sound education in English since international schools had not begun functioning at that time.
"Sleep on my darling brother sleep on till we meet on that beautiful shore."

A livewire where ever he went