Sports

Sports

Aitken Spence and Golf at the Royal Colombo
Archie R. Aitken the celebrated golfer and champion more than once over had no connections whatsoever with Aitken Spence & Co. Ltd., the dark blue chip company of Sri Lanka’s commercial world. He planted tea, drank Scotch and played brilliant Golf at the Nuwara Eliya Club and Royal Colombo.

Moving down my memory lane, I picked up Reggie Gaddam as the earliest Chief Executive I recall from Aitken Spence, who played Golf. Gaddam was a star class sportsman, excelling in Rugby for the Up-Country, Tennis champ at the Garden Club and played great Golf at the Royal Colombo. His daughter Shelagh, was a brilliant all-round sportswoman. Golf champion of Ceylon, Squash champion at the Garden Club, she also represented Ceylon in Swimming, Hockey and Cricket. Shelagh married Dick Cotton, who was an excellent golfer and a nippy stand-off at Rugger.

Following Gaddam at Aitken Spence, came the majestic Mike Thornton. Massive and barrel-chested, Thornton was a brilliant golfer who won everything before him during his time. Champion of the Royal Colombo and champion of Ceylon, he was identified as a skilful administrator and invited to chair the Club as Captain. His stewardship was immensely successful. Then, came a grand Ceylonese, Elsworth Vanlangenberg as boss in charge. He migrated to the Royal Colombo from the Havelock Golf Club. An excellent golfer, he joined the Committee as Vice Captain in 1970 and Captain in 1971 when George Bobbiese was President.

To break the sequence of golfers as the heads of Aitken Spence, came Chari de Silva. He had no idea of the game but I have reason to believe that he was a social member, where he must have shown his flair for the pride of Scotland in the privacy of the Cads Bar at the rear of the Club. He was great company. Michael Mack who followed Chari de Silva, was equally ignorant of the game but excelled in his knowledge of the spirit of Bacchus. A delightfully pleasant personality with a charm all his own, he attracted company at the Guv’nors in recent times. Never ever played golf, and never even showed any long distance interest in the game.

With Norman Gunawardena following Michael Mack, Aitken Spence was once again recognised by the Royal Colombo and the golfing fraternity. Enthusiastic, keen, methodical and easy on the ears, Gunawardena loves his wines and dotes on the game. A slick administrator, he was invited to the Presidential chair and even though he served for only six months, he poured a pack of class into the administration. Finally came the devoted golfer, G. C. Wickremasinghe, who was the last golfer to chair Aitken Spence. Rabid about the game, he converted his lawn into a putting green. He carries a book of instructions in his car. He plays a continuous tape on driving instructions and he is a distinct pleasure talking to, if golf is the subject.

Harry Jayawardana, the present Chief Executive of Aitken Spence hasn’t the contours for competitive golf, but he can rest assured that regular swinging of the clubs will shape him to feel attracted to the game.

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