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Wycherley International commemorates Dr R.L. Spittel’s 45th death anniversary
View(s):The 45th death anniversary of proficient surgeon, gifted writer and renowned anthropologist, Dr Richard Lionel Spittel, was commemorated on September 3, 2014 with the issue of a stamp and first day cover.
The Wycherley International School (WIS) took pride in organising the event while perpetuating the memory of this iconic patron.
The issue took place at the present junior school library premises of the school, which was named Dr R. L. Spittel Library, in honour of the famed surgeon and author.
This was once the study of Dr Spittel, where the worktable and a clock used by him are still found. The commemorative stamp and first day cover were ceremonially issued in the presence of Chief Guest, Western Provincial Council Member, Malsha Kumarathunge, Deputy Postmaster General, Chitra Gunasekera, Philatelic Bureau Director, T. Sheeharan, and members of the Christine Wilson Charitable Trust.
The Wycherley Nursing Home built by Dr Spittel in 1922, became home to WIS in 1985. As one of the oldest international schools in Sri Lanka, it looks forward to celebrating its 30th anniversary on January 7, 2015. The school’s management and its students have preserved the grandeur of the location with utmost pride and gratitude towards the patron who built their alma mater.
Commenting on this initiative that the school has embarked upon, WIS Principal, Kingsley Jayasinghe said, “I have always been inspired by Dr Spittel’s life and his literary work based primarily on indigenous people. In fact, I am proud to be the Principal of WIS, which was started at Dr Spittel’s residence and nursing home’. Ms Kumarathunge, a past pupil of WIS, sharing her thoughts on the occasion said, “Today, once again I walked through the halls that I had walked for 15 years as a student of Wycherley, and I was so happy to note how much it has changed for the better. Wycherley has developed significantly and it makes me a very happy and proud participant of this occasion.”
Dr R.L. Spittel was born in Tangalle on December 9, 1881 and was educated at Royal College Colombo and Ceylon Medical College. His eminent medical career began in 1909, as the third surgeon of the General Hospital Colombo, adding several landmarks to Sri Lanka’s medical history, including the first skin graft, and publications such as ‘Basics of Surgical Ward Work’ and ‘Essentials of Surgery’.