Remembering those good old days
I joined Richmond College in 1933 and studied there up to 1940. Richmond is now 204 years old, and was started by a British missionary.I was born in Galle Fort on August 17, 1926. My two brothers Razik and Dr. Zain Cader and my cousins Lafat Hassen, Dr. Ansari Hassan, and M.C.T Cassim travelled together from Galle Fort to school.
I started schooling from kindergarten. The head teacher, Rita Kale also lived in Galle Fort. The other KG teachers were Miss. E.M. Janz, L.N. Janz and Mrs. Gunewardene.
From kindergarten, we went to standard 2. I still remember the great Principals of the school, Rev. A.A. Sneath, who was an imposing figure who visited our classes once in a way, also E.R. De Silva, followed by Shelton Wirasinha and Rev. Dolby.
Every day we used to have assembly in Darrel Hall, a masterpiece in engineering – a roof standing without any support from below. Rev. Darrell planned and built the college hall.
We had some great teachers at the time. Mr. Saa Bandaranayake who later became the Headmaster of Royal Primary and Major Adihetty was more a preacher than a teacher. Discipline was number one for him. As soon as he entered the class, he would write on the blackboard ‘Don’t have Jealousy, Anger and Pride’.
During the Richmond vs Mahinda match, he would say ‘If Mahinda plays well cheer for Mahinda, if Richmond plays well cheer for Richmond. Play the game, play fair and let the better side win’.
We also had teachers like A.C.G. Abeywardene, who liked to play the fool in or out of the class, R.S. Wickremasinghe, S.I. Perera, K.T. Koshy (from India) and Mrs. Gunewardene.
About a year ago, I went to Richmond College and met the Principal, and got his permission to open the Darrell Hall. During our time, it was an assembly hall, where we sang or the Principal addressed the students. It is sad that the hundreds of chairs that were used for assembly are not there anymore, and have been put to other use.
During our time, there were only 325 students though now, there are over 4,000 or more. Then, G.W.S. de Silva, was collecting the school fees. During British times, parents were encouraged to send children to school, and every third child, had to only pay 50 cents facility fees. I had to pay only 50 cents.
I am sad that the beautiful flamboyant trees on the way to Richmond Hill are no more. It was said that on a clear day, Adam’s Peak could be seen from Richmond Hill. There was a big ‘Ata Amba’ tree which was supposed to be haunted. We dreaded to pass that tree on concert days at night. I used to close my eyes, and run down the hill.
Sometimes our books would get stolen, so we used to write on the inside cover, “Steal not this book for fear or shame, for God will ask on judgment day, where is the book you stole that day”.
At the end of the year, the boys had autograph albums in which the children would write. One verse I remember is ‘the grass is green, the rose is red, remember me till I am dead, dead, dead’. The boys used to sing before the year end – One week more and where shall we be – Out of the bounds of RCG.
The boarders sang,
Parippu, pol sambol and buth
For brains, for muscles, for guts
They are so sweet
That ever we eat
Parippu, Pol sambol, buth
From Richmond, I went to S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia in 1940, and did my O’ Levels there. My favourite subject was General Knowledge both at Richmond and STC. I can remember the longest river in the world and the highest mountain, also all the railway stations from Galle to Colombo, and the largest railway network in the world (India) and the distance from Point Pedro to Dondra.
Before the end of the exam, the class teacher used to assess each student’s chances. When it came to my turn, he put his hand on his head, and said ‘Oh Cader miracles do happen’. A miracle did not happen, I left school, and joined the family firm on March 14, 1947.
Now 1 am retired, and a grandfather of five boys and two girls, and great grandfather of two boys. This is the happiest time of my life.
I wish all Richmondites, past and present, and the masters, teachers and Principal of Richmond College the best of everything. Richmond is most certainly one of the best schools in Sri Lanka.