With just a few months before he reaches his hundredth birthday, past Benedictine and Bloomfield cricketer, Terrance Perera, can sit back and reminisce, on a sporting career that has spanned several decades, with a mixture of pride and satisfaction.Throughout his time as a sportsman the one achievement that he cherished above all others was when he earned the right to captain St. Benedict’s College in 1933, the final year of his illustrious school cricket career. He shared the dressing room with a number of distinguished Old Bens, such as Eric de Mel, Vernon Arnolda, Austin Gunawardene, and Aloy Perera.
Terrence looks back on a glorious era |
He continued playing cricket after school for Bloomfield and eventually went on to captain the side in 1952. Thereafter he went on to further service St. Benedict’s cricket by coaching the senior team from 1973 to 1975. This was not to be his only foray into the world of coaching. He ran a school of cricket for over 35 years which succeeded in effectively grooming the game of fine young talent, right up until 2002.However cricket was not to be the only sport Terrance proved to be more than proficient in. He played and excelled at football at St.Benedict’s and served as a vital cog in the 1931 side that clinched the All Island Schools’ title.
In 1932 he joined the CR&FC football team to form the core of a group of players who went on to lift the Times Cup. The final, played against Galle FC, was a drawn out affair with three matches being played before a decision was produced. This is due to the fact that back in those days there were no deciding penalty shootouts at the end of playing time. The first two games ended in draws before CR emerged victorious in the third. His 78 year affiliation with CR&FC makes him the club’s oldest standing member.
Away from sports, Terrance made his mark on society by serving in the Ceylon Garrison Artillery during the war, from 1939 until 1946, alongside his five brothers. This is a historic milestone in the military as there have never been so many siblings serving together in the same unit of the army. Even during this period he continued his love affair with sports by playing cricket, football and hockey in Diyatalawa during his training for the artillery.
St. Benedict’s College has, on several different occasions, identified and celebrated Terrance’s contribution to its sporting history. In 2005, during the school’s prize giving, they presented him with the very first copy of “Benectine Memoirs”, a book looking back at the schools rich history. This year once again, in honour of Terrance’s enduring sporting legacy, St. Benedict’s College is planning a felicitation match in August to coincide with his 100th birthday.
Tyronne Perera, Terrance’s son and a former St. Benedict’s cricketer himself, says that his father is proud to have been a Benedictine for so long, however he does bears one deep regret. “He never got to play in a big match because at that time the concept of playing your traditional rivals did not exist.” |
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