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| Saturday, 11 September 2004 |
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Sports | |
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Remembering Bernard Fonseka - the golfer cum ruggerite by Richard Dwight 'Time Flies' and with the swiftness of time, an year has flown by since the passing away of Bernard Fonseka, the well known Planter ruggertie and golfer of no mean repute. His sudden demise at the age of 59 on 12th September 2003, did come as a rude shock to the members of his family and friends - who through the succeeding weeks and months within the year, have derived solace and strength from the words "Though nothing can bring back the hour, of splendour in the grass or glory in the flower, we will grieve not, but rather find strength in what remains behind." Literally and metaphorically, Bernard, stood tall as a lad at St. Joseph's College, where as a mild mannered student he was well behaved with a modest outlook. At school he imbibed fine qualities that are required of a gentleman and a sportsman, which was in evidence as he excelled at Basketball and Rugby. Endowed with a pleasant appearance, exemplary ways and, being at all times nattily dressed he earned the sobriquet 'peacock' from his colleagues and associates at the plantation sector, where he served. As a planter in the upcountry districts, he gained experience and skill to forge ahead to hold positions of responsibility, firstly as assistant superintendent of Strathdon group Hatton and then as superintendent of Park Group Kandapola, Great Western and Mattakelle state plantations, Talawakelle. He was at one time Cluster Director Park State Plantation, Kandapola. In addition he was also the Director and Manufacturing Advisor - Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers Pvt. Ltd and vice president - Asia Siyaka Commodities Pvt. Ltd. Bernard's remarkable contribution for the promotion and furtherance of the tea industry, almost ran concurrently with his fondness for rugby. In rugby's golden years of yore, the game and the upcountry plantations were handmaids, one complementary to the other, with many Europeans playing alongside Sri Lankans. Bernard did well in the late 1960's and seventies, representing Dimbulla - Dickoya in the rugger team and, as a member of the Clifford Cup champion outfit as well. His colleagues in the field of rugby at different times were the three B's Bousfield, Bretherton and Bean, Vernon Tissera Duff Tytler, Manik Jayakumar, Chula Delgoda, Tyrell Muttiah, Rajiv de Silva, Lionel Almeida, Ravi Wickramasinghe, Ken Murray, Selva Canagasabai and yet others. Confronted with a recurring knee injury, Bernard, switched over from rugby to golf. The switch proved eventful, for it was during the 1972 amateur golf championship in Nuwara Eliya, that he met Lalani whom he eventually married Lalani was the daughter of the Late ASP Bertie Weerasinghe (who won the gallantry award for service rendered in the 1958 communal riots). It was Weerasinghe, who was instrumental in Bernard taking to the game, and received added incentive, when his father-in-law presented him with a brand new set of golf clubs. Their mutual interest in golf and the estate way of life, was largely responsible for the wholesome, healthy partnership that existed between Bernard and Lalani right through to the end. Lalani was the live wire in the Ladies section of Nuwara Eliya Golf club and most deservedly was appointed the first lady captain of NEGC from 1980 ti 1985, within which she worked tirelessly for the progress of the club. She predeceased Bernard in 1989. There was nothing sensational or flamboyant about Bernard's golf, but he was a steady player spanning a period of 25 years, where he won as many events in the Havelock Trophy, Burdett Trophy and Colombo Tea Traders golf competitions. He also won quite a few awards in the tournaments conducted by the Nuwara Eliya Golf Club and the Royal Colombo Golf Club Bernard played in the company of golfers like Ken Murray, Ralston Tissera, Dr. C. Thurairajah, Sunil Jayakody, Anil de Silva, Lalith Ramanayake, Sohli Captain, Sarath Piyaratne, Feroze Billimoria and many more. This apart, his organizing and administrative ability gained in the plantation sector, was brought to bear as he served at different times as the President and Captain of both the NEGC and the RCGC, a commendable achievement indeed. By way of expertise and skill, Bernard had much to give still, in the cause of the tea industry and golf, but that was not to be, for he was taken away when least expected, in order that we may value the gift all the more. Bernard did impress and touch the lives of many who came in contact with him, for he was "a pebble cast in the stream of time, a splash a bubble and was gone, but the ripples of his influence will go on widening and ever widening, until they reach the farthest end of the shore". |
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