SPORTS AT S THOMAS’ COLLEGE, GURUTALAWA - UNDER A. C. M. LAFFIR, PREFECT OF GAMES

HIGH PERFORMANCE: THE MAGIC YEARS    

            

A. C. M. Laffir wins Ceylon Schools Hockey Umpires Colors 

With WW II coming to an end in 1945, S Thomas’ College Mt Lavinia recommences with all the temporary units coming back to Mt Lavinia, but for the one at Gurutalawa.

Dr. R. L. Hayman and Rev. Fr. A. J. Foster is permitted to run a separate branch of the school, in Gurutalawa, as a boarding school in line with those in the UK then.

The 55 pioneer students and the teaching staff of 8 did leave for Mt Lavinia with Colombo getting back to normal. It was difficult to retain the teachers with provisional living conditions and on a meager remuneration in a remote location like Gurutalawa.

Dr. Hayman by now had arranged for students who entered the University to help in teaching at Gurutalawa. A building program for a school block with permanent dormitories and classrooms was underway. Some students who had completed university education were absorbed to the teaching staff and into the school administration. As they were old-boys, they were devoted and committed in their undertakings. Mr. A. K. Chapman, Mr. F. L. Amerasinghe, Mr. O. E. J. de Soyza, Selwyn Gunawardane were some who joined the teaching staff while Mr. Benjamin Fernando and Mr. John Marasinghe joined the office administration.

By 1948 the college is on a firm footing with the number of students close to a hundred. Recreation and sports for the boarders required a full-time staffer. It was Fr. Foster and Dr. Hayman who had been coaching in sports all these years. Again the obvious option was to source a senior student who excelled in sports in college and offer him the position on a permanent basis. Dr. Hayman and Fr. Foster by now had handpicked their selection in Mr. A. C. M. Laffir a boy who performed well in Football and Squash Racket Game for the position of Prefect of Games at Gurutalawa.

A. C. M. Laffir was born on the 28th October 1932 to parents O. L. A. Cader of Shady Grove Estate, Rambukpitiya in Nawalapitiya. A family of five boys and two girls, all the five boys attended St. Patrick's College, Jaffna. His Grand Uncles had attended Trinity College Kandy and they all excelled in sports and were Athletics Colours holders.  Sports, therefore, was family legacy.

Young Laffir completing his primary and middle school education in Jaffna is enrolled as a student at S Thomas’ Gurutalawa in the year 1945. He was in the first set of students to join the new school branch of Mt Lavinia, situated in Gurutalawa.

While at school he was an average student in academia but an exceptional one in the playing field. A star-class football player; an "Ambipedal", one who could use both legs equally good in kicking and passing. This is not as common a word as "Ambidextrous", because outside of football, no one really cares whether a kid can use both feet to an equally overwhelming effect. Hockey was his other favorite game and he played in a leading position in both these field games and obtained College Colours.

He did not fancy cricket and thought it was a slow-moving game with less action. His other favored games were the racket games; Squash-Rackets and Badminton. Squash was by now established in a big way in Gurutalawa and the only others who played Squash then were the planters in Darrawela and Radella and the Tri Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) in Diyatalawa. Many boys passing out took to tea planting as a profession and these old boys met with the present boys in an annual Squash tournament played at Radella or at College on an annual encounter. Laffir was a champion Squash player, and it may be his love for the game that led to a passion for planting as a profession after his S.S.C Examination in 1951.

It was Rev. Canon A J Foster who was coaching the boys in sports during this time. Young Laffir may have seen a mentor and a trainer in Rev. Fr. Foster. This could be why he could not resist Fr. Foster’s humble request for young Laffir to join the college staff in-charge of sports when he had completed his studies at Gurutalawa.

“It had been a difficult decision for Mr. Laffir to turndown an already consented and secured employment in planting,” says Mijward Laffir his son as told by the father.

A. C. M. Laffir the Prefect of Games, Manager of the CO-OP Society and the College Farm

A. C. M. Laffir takes over duties as the Prefect of Games of the school and joins with the other old boys in the staff, who are also living within the school campus. His first abode as a bachelor member was in the room adjoining the engine room of the swimming pool. Living close to the pool he is now supervising the maintenance of the pool and assisting Dr. Hayman in the coaching of swimmers. Coaching of Hockey, Tennis, Squash, and Football that were under Fr. Foster is now his responsibility.   

Sports being limited to the few hours in the evening he is entrusted in running the day to day operations of the College Farm until a permanent Farm Manager was sourced. In February 1954 the school opens a Cooperative Stores Society with the students being its membership. This would be benefiting the students with their general needs and the food provisions needed for the school boarding house.

The election to the position of the first Manager of the Cooperative Stores was unanimous and it was the young and energetic Mr. A. C. M. Laffir. This position he held for almost four years until he relinquished the post of CO-OP Manager to take over the position of Farm Manager.

The CO-OP Store Building - Built with sunburnt bricks - Laboured by the Staff and Students

Sports at Gurutalawa

Gurutalawa being a boarding school needed the boys to be sound both mentally and physically. While the curriculum took charge of the educational aspects, the various clubs for different sports were for the boys to select. There was a variety to choose from Tennis, Athletics, Hockey, Cricket, Football, Swimming, Boxing, Badminton, Volley Ball, and Table Tennis to one’s liking and ability.

Further to games, there were life skills and hobbies to choose from; Photographic Club, Philatelist Club, Farming Club, Astronomy Club, Rifle Shooting Club, Bird-Watching, Scouting, Hiking, Cadetting, Horse Riding, and Wood Carving

However, Gurutalawa with all these facilities still had the need of a spacious playing field located within its campus. All attempts by authorities to purchase adjoining lands to accommodate a playing field did not materialize. Mr. Laffir highlights this aspect in his notes to the History of the College in the book ‘First Fifty Years’ thus;  “The playing field was some distance away from the school and getting to it, across the paddy fields, took some time. From the beginning, it was Dr. Hayman's wish to site a sports ground by the buildings of the school itself in the extent of land which is now cultivated with vegetables and which then slopes down to the paddy fields below the main bungalow. This would have been an ideal site with a natural amphitheater for the spectators. But though the school authorities have tried again and again even after Dr. Hayman left; the present farmers who cultivated the paddy fields have refused every offer to buy the fields. Finally, the playing field came up in a distance over half a mile at the six-acre government land obtained on a long term lease which was gradually developed to the present condition where cricket, hockey, football, rugby, and the athletic meets are held.”

Cricket and football matches played against competing schools in the early days (1942-1945) were worked out at the Bandarawela esplanade.

Football

Football in the early days has been very popular in spite of the uneven surface and the slope on which it was played. Football was played against schools in Bandarawela and Badulla. The annual trip to St. Michael's College in Batticaloa was a regular event.  The cricket, athletics, boxing, and basketball teams went along with the footballers to Batticaloa. It was a full four days where the boys enjoyed visiting historical sites on the way back. Gurutalawa had some outstanding players then; including A.C.M. Laffir who was coached by Rev Fr. Foster. Today the standard of the game has fallen, but house matches were played until Rugger overtook the game in 1965. 

Football Team 1962 with Dr. Hayman, Rev. Fr. Foster & A.C.M. Laffir

Squash Racket Game

The first Squash Court was built in 1957 with the assistance of the boys and staff. The walls were built with mud bricks made of rammed earth and the court was completed in 1958 without a roof for the lack of funds. Again it was Rev. Fr. Foster who knew all about the game who undertook in coaching the boys. The game became very popular and over 40 boys enrolled to the club. The need of a second court was fulfilled, and with both courts having roofs on them with electrical lighting, the boys could play late into the evenings and even on rainy days when other sports were not possible.

In the early '80s, the Squash Federation was formed and the First National tournament was held. Gurutalawa became the Under 19 and 16 National Champion. Gurutalawa had an edge over the other teams as it was the only school that played the game then.  N.S. Tillakaratne outdid all to become the Men’s National Champion, bringing credit to Gurutalawa.   

Badminton

Badminton was very popular in the early years and both Dr. Hayman and Rev. Fr. Foster played and encouraged in the development of the game. However, with the courts all being in the outdoors, the game did not reach the competitive standards. However, there were many good players from the beginning and one exception was A.C.M. Jiffrey; the younger brother of A. C. M. Laffir who was also in college for a short spell. A clear indication of the sporting blood that ran in the family. The need for an indoor Badminton court has still not been fulfilled. Badminton in Gurutalawa did not produce star class school players unlike STC Bandarawela but it should be noted that L. G. Saman Gunawardane played for Sri Lanka after he left college representing STC Mt Lavinia. 

Tennis

Tennis began in the late forties with the arrival of Mr. F. L. Amarasinghe to join the teaching staff. Both Mr. and Mrs. Amarasingha were enthusiastic in promoting the game among the students and the game developed rapidly. As the club membership grew a third court was added in the mid-fifties. In the year 1950 Gurutalawa sent a team down to Colombo to compete in the Public Schools Tennis Championships. In 1960 the school team coached by Mr. F. L. Amarasinghe and Mr. L. M. Fernando won the G. A. Laing Challenge Shield for Junior Public School Tennis Championship, the only time this Challenge Shield has been won by a school outside Colombo. Again much of the practice tournaments were played against the planters in Darrawela and the Public Services Clubs in Nuwara Eliya and Badulla. These matches helped to improve the standard of the game in school.

However, the standards did drop when Mr. and Mrs. Amerasinghe left college in the mid-60s when their son Ralph Amerasinghe had ended schooling at Gurutalawa. The club was revived once again when Mr. E.L. Perera / Head Master, himself a keen player took up coaching with Mr. Chapman. Some improvement was seen but not to the standards as in the early 60s.  Mr. E. L. Perera, leaving in 1974 the game has been in the doldrums. 

Volley Ball

This game in the early days was more popular among the domestic staff. Driver-Piyasena with Van-Simon, the sick room orderly, Ariyadasa, and his brother Karunadasa, the ground boy were regular players in the evenings after work. They were joined by some of the staff as well. Mr. Benjamin Fernando the bursar was a good player. 

Athletics

An annual Athletics meet in all schools was a regulatory requisite by the Education Department. Therefore, this was an annual event where the boys who performed exceptionally did get to participate in the Public Schools Championship in Colombo.  The school held House Meets from 1943 onwards. It is noted that Arthur Perera; a distinguished old boy, was a member of the 4 x 440 yards relay team that broke the existing Public Schools record in 1948. The most lovable character Mr. J de S Jayasinghe took charge of Athletics in as early as 1949 and continued till 1976.

With the commencement of a junior school in Gurutalawa, the Sports Meets today are more colorful with a March Past, Drill Displays, and a Tug of War. A separate meet for the Primary School commenced from 1991. Even though it was Mr. J de S Jayasinghe who was the master in charge it was none other than Mr. Laffir who was the master of ceremonies during the sports meet; coordinating marking of tracks and conducting heats to select finalists for the final gala event.  

Hockey

Hockey has always been the signature sport at Gurutalawa. Boys were specialized from the early days for playing the game on a grassless hard clay surface. The ball did travel very fast on the clay surface, unlike a turf playing field. Thereby the boys at Gurutalawa played a faster game and this was an advantage where other schools played a slower game on a grassy surface.

The competence and skills of the game were of a very high standard from the beginning and it is noted that the Under 15 and the Under 17 Hockey teams had toured India as early as 1959 /1960, playing against fourteen Indian schools in Bangalore, Mysore, and Chennai.

Mr. Laffir’s contribution to Hockey was significant after the Hayman era and the demise of Rev Fr Foster in 1964. The ultimatum being when he produced the  All Island Invincible Under 17 Hockey Team in the years 1972/1973.

Hockey Team 1960 with Dr. Hayman, Rev. Fr. Foster & A.C.M. Laffir

Sports in the Post Hayman Era

Many were of the feeling that the school will not be the same as when it was in the hands of Dr. Hayman and Rev. Fr. Foster. However their selection of a dedicated set of old boys to the school staff with Mr. A. K. Chapman as the Acting Headmaster ran the school in the same standards until Mr. Frank Jayasinghe came in as the new Headmaster. Even though the academic standards dropped somewhat the sports activities picked up in a big way with many in the staff assisting Mr. Laffir in his position as Prefect of Games.

Mr. F. L. Amerasinghe continued with Tennis, Mr. J de S Jayasinghe and Mr. O.N. Peries coached cricket and athletics while rugger and basketball was looked after by Mr. Fasy. Swimming progressed under Mr. Marasinghe. The racket games squash and badminton with hockey was under Mr. Laffir. Football by now was not popular as before but was coached both by Rev. Fr. Goodchild and Mr. Laffir.

Laffir weds Mariam

Mr. Laffir in 1964 ties the knot with Siththy Mariam and moves into the married staff accommodations in the vicinity of the Keble dormitory. They were generous enough to provide accommodation to about 15 boys when the school dormitory lodging exhausted. This was the time the writer entered Gurutalawa and his memories of Mr. Laffir are reminded.

Trendy and Lovable

The short-statured gentleman in a striped long-sleeved open collar sport shirt and shorts with matching striped stockings in canvas shoes or hockey boots and the whistle cord round the neck would appear from nowhere when we would have just finished our evening tea. Everyone whether selected for a team sport or not is herded all the way to the grounds and made to engage in some sport. There were those who would be gone ahead of him only to hide in some nook or corner but Mr. Laffir would look in every possible hiding place and chase them all to the grounds where he would then start his favorite hockey practices with the two teams that would play each other. This way there was always an A team and a B team ready for any crisis. Hockey or for that matter any sport at Gurutalawa then (other than the cub games where a monthly fee was charged) was played under very trying conditions. The school provided for the basic requirements like a few bats, balls, and pads for cricket and about two dozen Indian made hockey sticks. The boys on the other hand did not have any protective gear that today’s students would not get into the playing field without. As mentioned before the game was played on the hard clay surface and we were very comfortable playing barefooted. This was how most of us represented college matches as well. (Re; photograph of the invincible team) Sports cosmetics was never a priority in that era and we all had very limited access to resources.

The boys in the boarding school ended the day with the evening visit to the CO-OP shop, which again was a specialty to serve tea and an evening feed of either String Hoppers, ‘Godamba Roti’ or the then famous ‘Yeast-Roti’ with a generous serving of shredded coconut - chili sambol. This would be the last time the boys would interact with Mr. Laffir in a day in school. Straight from the grounds, he will sit at the counter issuing you the receipt to collect your feed from the server.

Mr. Laffir did have the vision to produce the best team in the Uva Province.  He had by 1967 earmarked S. S. Piyadasa (SSP) who was later known as Sarath Serasinghe. He was an expert in all racket games and hockey. I have no doubt that Mr. Laffir saw a reflection of himself at school in SSP. However, Laffir’s plans and expectations in building up the most superior hockey team in the province led by the best player in the province, had to be put on hold when SSPs parents decide to put him into Ananda College in 1969. SSP was so indulged in sports that his application towards studies was neglected resulting in this transfer. However, SSP did excel in his hockey more than in his studies even at Ananda and went all the way to lead the Sri Lanka team in the game in the 80s. Mr. Laffir was yet a happy man for what SSP achieved in hockey and being his first hockey coach.

However, by 1972, Mr. Laffir did achieve his ambition in building that super invincible team with players like Sarath Weerasekara, Nalim Rafeeq, and Premaratne Wathuhewa.  The team he produced was simply symbolic and was totally a Made in Gurutalawa team …

The  Undefeated U17 - Super Hockey Team of 1972/1973 with Headmaster E.L.Perera & A. C. M. Laffir

I had left school by then but this is how Sufi Dole a student junior to me has exemplified this team in the most appropriate manner in an FB comment recently; “You know the champion U17 Team that Mr. Laffir produced was not made up of "imports from other schools" like it is common today. They were all in-house guys. That team thrashed schools like STC-Mt, Royal, Ananda, Wesley, Zahira College Matale, Trinity, St. Anthony's Kandy, where some of them had a student population of 4,500, while Guru had only a total student population of only 450 during my time to choose 11 players.”

“Laffir was an institution by himself. He would beat the best student players in Tennis, Squash, Badminton, but would never "rubbed it in", to make another person embarrassed or feel small. He was an outstanding sportsman, but his greater achievement was his "sportsmanship", and as with great leaders, the ability to articulate and communicate these exemplary attributes through his behavior, compelling us to emulate him” says Sufi of this exemplary character.  

His commitment to hockey went along with numerous achievements to the school in the 1970/1980 until the functioning of the school went into uncertainties in the 1980s. The intake of students to Grade 6 from the two Prep Schools in Kollupitiya and Bandarawela ceased. Gurutalawa had to start a lower school with a kindergarten and the number of students went over 1000. Dr. Hayman’s vision for the school did change with this new school structuring and the impact was directly affecting sports and other extracurricular activities. The staff that continued from the Hayman era bade goodbye with many of them reaching retirement age. However, Mr. Laffir did continue with his routine activities in sports even during these difficult times. His devotion to hockey was not limited to the boys in the school.  Sports at Gurutalawa did influence the village youth; they too played the seasonal sports with improvised hockey sticks and cricketing gear.  Mr. Laffir in later years provided his coaching skills to these village boys, bring out some excellent players amongst them.

Mr. A. C. M. Laffir and Mariam Laffir flanked by  daughters Rehana & Shahina and their  Daughter in Law 

Rehana takes oaths as a Lawyer - Mr. Lafffir with his elder brother A. C. M. Gaffoor, son Mijward, and wife Mariam 

Mr. Laffir did continue serving the school even after many of his contemporaries had left the institution by 1989. But he too could not continue long, when he had to make allowances for his failing health. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer and had to call an end to all his commitments at Gurutalawa and come back home to Rambukpitiya in Nawalapitiya. He passed away peacefully and was laid to rest on the 26th of October 1994 in Nawalapitiya with a solemn Janasa attended by the close family. It was an early call and he was only 62 years.

He is survived by his beloved wife Mariam, son Mijward and the two daughters Rehana and Shahina. Mijward did follow the father’s path and ended as the Head Prefect in Gurutalawa in the years 1984 / 1985. He was the All-Round Sportsman in 1985 and the All Island Runner Up in Under 19 Squash in the same year. Both the girls entered Bishop's College Colombo as hostellers. They both excelled in swimming and represented Bishops College in Lawn Tennis. Rehana was a member of the hockey team. They all sure did make the father happy and proud.

Mr. A. C. M. Laffir lives in the hearts and souls of many who went past Gurutalawa in the four decades from 1950 to 1980. There had been instigations to remember this great personality and the only Prefect of Games by naming Sports Challenge Shields and Awards in his name. The planned renovations to the old pavilion building in memory of this great personality did not materialize with the administrative issues and the long term lease on the property which would end in the next 25 years. It is sad to note that hockey as well as most other games did not carry through after his demise. However, it is a blessing to see a Hockey Team from Gurutalawa re-emerging today after a lapse of almost 20 years.

Mr. Laffir's interaction with Dr. & Mrs. Haymans' last visit to College in 1983
(From the Family Album)

Finally, it must be noted, what Dr. Hayman and Rev. Fr. Foster created at Gurutalawa was a very special school. Their vision was to develop a student with a command and leadership to suit all weather conditions. Sports and other activities were planned to achieve this goal. Passing examinations was not a priority but a requirement. Looking back at some of the erudite products, from Gurutalawa; Bishop Lakshman Wickramasinghe, Bradman Weerakoon, Clifford Ratwatte, S. K. Wickramasinghe, A. T. Kovoor, Nihal Ilangakoon from the earlier batches, and more recently Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala, Prof. Mohan de Silva, Prof. Sarath Kotagama, Prof. Hemasiri Kotagama, and Prof. Amal Kumarage, is ample proof of what they gained at Gurutalawa. However, that school in Gurutalawa ceased to exist from 1978 with the change in the structure of the school. Today it is a different school and it would be inappropriate to expect the same results as then.

An all Bachelor Staff Party in the early days - A.C.M. Laffir, C.M. Chinniah, J. de. S. Jayasinghe, D.U. Samaranayake, Selwyn. Gunawardane. 

The credit of such achievements in the past go solely to the commitment and dedication of the staff who lived a 'boarding life' with the boys. Among them, Mr. A.C.M. Laffir was the last man to leave and it could be boldly stated that there will not be a Prefect of Games to match the quality and commitment of Mr. Laffir at Gurutalawa, seemingly forever.    

Esto Perpetua.

Uditha Wijesena.

Author's Notes

The author wishes to thank Mr. Mijward Laffir for the information and for sharing the family album.

Mr. Nihal Wanniarachchi who has been intimate with the Laffir family and for providing insight. Aditha my niece for her advice on editing and suggestions.
Part of history has been gleaned.from the book First Fifty Years