• Section: Old Boys' Association - Category: OBA

 BIRTH AND GROWTH OF OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION

The following is an excerpt from 'The Antonian' magazine, originally written by Charles Duff-Tytler.


Although the College had no properly constituted Old Boys' Association during its earliest period, until the 0. B. A. was inaugurated in 1911, Old Boys of various professions and denominations kept up the connecting link with the College by visiting the old place and renewing their past acquaintances and memories of the old school and the good old teachers. Glimpses of such contacts have appeared in previous magazines of the College particularly from the older generation of Old Boys such as Dr. Lucian de Zilwa, Dr. Eustace Woutersz(ohit.), Dr. George Puvimanasingham, Mr. F. J. P. Mudanayake, Mr. Otto Diacono and Mr. C. E. S. Perera. It was, however, left to the vision and foresight of the Very Revd. Fr. D. Basil Hyde, O.S.B., a former Old Boy Principal of the College, to inaugurate the Old Boys' Association of the College which has proved so vital an element for good in the life of the school. At an inaugural meeting held on the 26th December 1911, a representative gathering of Old Boys assembled in the College Hall and decided to form an Old Boys' Association. The motto of the Association was ' Unitas Charitate Firmatur' and its distinctive badge the colours of the school worn in the form of a rosette. The purpose indicated for the Association was three-fold : (a) to establish a species of brotherhood among Old Boys of the College by bringing them together in a spirit of union and good fellowship ; (b) to promote the well-being of the members of the Association and (c) to promote the interests of the Old School.

The first Branch Association of the Parent Body was formed at Badulla on the 24th February, 1912, by a stout-hearted Old Boy, Mr. B. James Perera obit.), the eldest brother of Muhandiram A. Leon Perera-Wijewardena, i.s.o., another great Old Boy and pioneer of many activities of the Colombo Old
Boys' Association and who, with Mr. Dodwell Berenger, is one of the sponsors and architects of the Centenary Hall.

The first annual foregathering of the 0. B. A. took the form of a very jubilant and joyous celebration on the occasion of the Consecration and elevation of the late Rt. Revd. Dr. D. Bede Beekmeyer, O.S.B., first Ceylonese Bishop, as Bishop of Kandy when the 0. B. A. presented a purse and held a complimentary Public Dinner in his honour at the Queen's Hotel. Kandy, in 1912. 1 have with me a menu card of the Old Boys' Dinner of 1914 from which I reproduce below the list of toasts:
The Loyal Toast:
Proposed by the Chairman.
The Guest of the Evening:
Proposed by the Chairman
Responded to by Rt. Revd. Dr. B. Beekmeyer,O.S.B.
The College:
Proposed by the Very Revd. L. Vossen, S.J.
Responded to by Very Revd. D. M. Craner, O.S.B.

The Guests:
Proposed by S. K. Rajasingham, Esq. Responded to by F. H. Vanderwall, Esq.
Tin'.
The Sister Colleges:
Proposed by Very Revd. D. B. Hyde, o.s.B. Responded to by N. Selvadurai, Esq.
The Old Boys:
Proposed by Adv. A. C. G. Wijekoon Responded to by Dr. Lucian de Zilwa.

A subsequent foregathering of the 0. B. A. was held in October when the College at its old premises in Kandy (now the proud premises of St. Sylvester's College), celebrated the opening of the new two-storeyed wing by Mr. E. B. Denham, C.C.S., a Former Director ol' Education. In welcoming Mr. Denham, Mr. A. P. Van Reyk {obit.) Vice-Presidenltor the 0. B. A. expressed the loyalty of the Old Boys of that period in words that bear reproduction "Now, Mr. Denham, I have to inform you that it is the Old Boys of 'St. Anthony's who are responsible for the function of this evening. They want to stand sponsors at this ceremony. They are proud of their Alma Mater. They realise that whatever they are is in a large measure due to the training they received in this College. Although the College has been in existence for a considerable time, it is during the past few years that the College prepared boys for the higher examinations. They are also grateful to the College for giving them a sound mental and moral training and sending them out equipped to fight the battle of life with properly balanced minds and for having learnt the virtues of self-control and the necessity of always submitting to lawfully constituted authority. Thanks to (lie munificence of one of our most distinguished Old Boys, His Lordship the Bishop, the new building has been completed.


In taking this opportunity to arrange for this function, the Old Boys have intended to use their utmost endeavour to bring their old school into closer acquaintance with the public, and to secure for it more recognition than it got in the past;
and I am sure you will sympathise with their wishes, and consider it in that light and not as a commonplace thing in the evolution of the College."

Mr. Van Reyk's belief in the loyalty and solidarity of the Old Boys of the school has been fully vindicated in the years that followed his speech- as will be seen in the account that follows.