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Appreciations Wilhelm
Balthazaar Wilhelm was
an outstanding sportsman at Trinity. He played in David Frank's
1956 rugby team, which was arguably one of the finest produced by
Trinity. Wilhelm won the coveted Trinity Rugby Lion for his performance
as a flanker, then known as wing forward. He continued his rugby
when he was a planter in the upcountry districts. As a planter
he was trained by the legendary Gamini Salgado and went on to be
superintendent of many estates, his last being Andigama Estate,
Giriulla. He was also interested in diversification and even bred
sheep when he was at Andigama. Moving on from
his planting career, Wilhelm ventured into the business world, where
he enjoyed a great degree of success. It was as an entrepreneur
that Wilhelm showed exceptional talent. He started by introducing
gherkins as an export crop and was so successful that many others
followed. He moved into coconut fibre products and made a success
of this venture, too. Here again many others followed. More recently,
Wilhelm introduced Poulownia, the fast growing timber species, to
this country. Unfortunately, he did not live to see its fruition. Wilhelm, together
with Raja Attygalla and Lasantha Fernando, formed the Association
of Ex-Planters. He was the association's first president. This association
has as its main objective the welfare and well-being of planters
who have retired and need assistance in various forms. Wilhelm spent
a lot of time and energy, and even his personal funds, in getting
the association on its feet and running. He was president for five
years and gave up when he was satisfied that the association would
not look back. Today this association is over ten years old, functioning
effectively and a tribute to Wilhelm's vision and his concern for
his fellow planters. Wilhelm was
determined to help rugby at Trinity from which he had benefited
greatly. He threw his weight behind the Old Trinitians' Rugby Scrummage
with his usual fervour and enthusiasm. He was president of the OTRS
for two years and guided this group to becoming a useful arm of
Trinity's rugby scene. Wilhelm was a source of strength to the Principal
of Trinity, Prof. W. Breckenridge. He worked tirelessly along with
a few others to build the Pallekelle Stadium for Trinity rugby. Those who knew
Wilhelm will miss him greatly. He was a good friend, who was concerned
about his friends. Whatever he undertook, he did well. He had the
ability of leading from the front and infusing his enthusiasm in
the members of the associations he led. The members
of the Old Trinitians' Rugby Scrummage and the Association of Ex-Planters
salute Wilhelm for his untiring efforts on behalf of both these
organizations, and wish to record their grateful thanks. We offer our
deepest sympathies to Lorni and the children on their sad loss.
Their consolation is that Wilhelm lived a great life and was appreciated
by all who knew him. Bishop
Harold de Soysa He was the
first Ceylonese Bishop of Colombo. He and Bishop Abeynaike are perhaps
the only two Bishops of Colombo to be elected uncontested. He hailed from
a family which has served both the church and society well. Having
received his education at Royal College, he proceeded to England
where he studied at Oxford and was trained for ordination at Cuddesdon.
After his ordination in England, he worked there for a short period
before returning to Ceylon. Here he worked in Kandy, Moratuwa and
other places. He was also
the principal of the Colombo Divinity School, where he was responsible
for the training of many ordinands. While being principal, he was
also made the Archdeacon of Colombo. Bishop Harold
would be remembered for many things. His contribution to the Sunday
school movement and the Church of Ceylon youth movement would always
remain etched in our memory. He was also
the live- wire of the Gospel and Culture Movement in our church's,
Indigenisation. He also played
an important role in the Church Union and the Ecumenical Movement.
His work in this area was recognised to such an extent that he was
part of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Anglican-Roman Catholic conversations.
He and a few
others dreamed and saw visions about our new cathedral, but, alas,
he, like Moses, did not enter the Promised Land of the new cathedral.
While the cathedral was being built, he died in 1971. However, his
mortal remains were buried inside the cathedral. Above everything
else, Bishop Harold was essentially a man of God. He was a man of
prayer who developed his own spirituality. That was manifest in
his life and work. This man of
God was indeed the perfect child of God for he was childlike simple
and humble in many ways. We thank God for the life and work of this
unique man of God. R. G.
Bernard Bernard never
failed to offer the best advice to those who came to him with any
problem. He was not only helpful in word, but also deed, and he
never refused assistance to those who sought help. He was a gentleman
to the letter and lovable family man. He built up his business through
sheer commitment, dedication and determination. At times, we used
to wonder how such a kind- hearted, man became a successful businessman.
Of course, Bernard proved to the world that an honest man with a
good heart and generous spirit could also be a successful businessman. For me, Bernard
was not only a friend but much more. Only a few weeks ago, he called
on me to see how I was faring after open-heart surgery, and was
full of advice. May the turf
lie softly on his ashes and may he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana! Visvalingam
Sooriyalingam |
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