Dick and Thea were very good friends of my parents, Aubrey and Catherine Aldons. As kids our two families went on many trips together to Kuchevelli, and stayed at the,Shanty’. What memorable holidays those were.
There must be an error regarding the tenure of W.C. Braybrooke as manager of Brownlow. He bought a house in Fairford, England at around 1907 and was definitely present for the national census of 1911. He died in 1914 in Godstone England. So, he was probably the manager till 1905/6 or so. His father, Philip Watson Brabyrooke, once a government agent in Kandy, died in Somerset in 1906.
I really enjoyed reading this awesome write up. I am a nephew to my dearest uncle, the Late Conrad Abeysekere (NB: ends with an E not A). The author Mr. Amerasinghe is spot in his vivid description and some of my uncle’s traits. He was truly loved by all his nephews and nieces. Almost every year he would not fail to take some of not all to his estate home for the school holidays. One time, my 2nd cousin and I fought while he was at work. He of course heard about it. So, that evening he produced two pairs of boxing gloves (he boxed at St. John’s College, Panadura), prepared a ring by moving the living room furniture about to make space, and played referee for us two to box 3 rounds of 3 minutes each. By the time we went through those 9 minutes, we had swelling on our faces (he had us ice later) and quite a few hurtful bruises. Uncle Connie asked us if we would like to have another bout the next day, and we both declined and got on well the rest of our holiday. Honestly, I can write a volume of the fabulous time I have had with my dearest uncle Connie. Auntie Sita mellowed him down from his awesome bachelor days, but she was certainly someone he should have met and married a lot sooner. She too is an aunt I love although the mischievous adult in my uncle was subdued with her. I do love her and wish her well in life.
I have save the awesome stories which is certainly a part of history on Sri Lanka’s Tea Plantations. Well done Sir in documenting your memoirs!
It is a very interesting story. In fact the very different photo with snow in Ceylon caught my eyes. Also when I went in to the article, more surprised to see a know person- Kavan 2 year senior at the uni, associated with it🙂
I have seen this reference to AJvdP before and it is not very accurate. He was a very strong ATHEIST, as letters to his wife written to his wife while on board ship between Europe and Ceylon which I still have will prove. There is no suggestion that his mother was Jewish either, being a direct descendant of the painter Franz Hals whose last name she carried,
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July 11,2020 09:43am