IN THIS ISSUE
- In Praise of a Hallowed Event by Anura Gunasekera
- Feature Article of the Month - The Scotts, the Murrays & the Polkes - Scions of Pioneer Planters in Ceylon
- Personal Memoirs of the Month - Manik Pereira
- Photo Album of the Month - Bearwell Estate, Talawakelle
- Contributor Photo Album of the Month - Mike de Alwis
- Planter Profiles of the Month - Nissanka Welikala & Douglas Mitchell
- Down Memory Lane - Born to Entertain - Ken Murray!
- This Year in History - 1896
- Tea Radio by Dilmah
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IN PRAISE OF A HALLOWED EVENT
With the "Royal-Thomian" on this weekend, here's an interesting tale penned by Anura Gunasekera revolving around (then) junior tea planter, Gamini Salgado requesting leave to attend the "big match", having himself excelled at cricket for Royal College, and which team he had captained just four years earlier.
To Julius Caesar in 1st century BC Rome, and to the Royal-Thomian tribesmen of today, the “Ides of March” presaged diametrically opposite outcomes. To Caesar, from an unnamed soothsayer, it was a warning of tragedy to come; to the tribesmen it heralds a time of rejoicing, an interlude for joy and laughter, of meetings with old friends, of reminiscing of shared experiences of a cherished past and of recapturing the enchantment of treasured memories; it is also an opportunity for dignified elders to shed gravitas and revert to a rowdy boyhood. To Caesar it spelt doom and a bloody end to unbridled ambition. Click HERE to read the full article.
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FEATURE ARTICLE OF THE MONTH
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Ken & Ylva Murray
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THE SCOTTS, THE MURRAYS AND THE POLKES – SCIONS OF PIONEER PLANTERS IN CEYLON
The end of an era; the end of a family dynasty of planters! Ken Murray, the larger-than-life, world's longest-serving tea-planter, calls it quits today after more than half a century! We wish Ken and Ylva the very best in retirement.
Here's a look at Ken's family plantation history.
An extract from the Encylopaedia of Ceylon – Ceylon Tea Industry Souvenir 1967 featured on the History of Ceylon Tea website, with more information provided by Ken Murray, who is the third generation of planters on his maternal side.
“Mr. John Joseph Polke son of Mr. Charles Polke of Ireland who died in 1947, is Manager of Glassaugh Estate Nanuoya. Born in Ireland on the 5th of August 1919, Mr. Polke Married on the 13th of June 1964, Miss Eileen Scott daughter of Mr. James Scott of Raxawa Panwila and granddaughter of Mr. A. Scott pioneer Planter of Waverley Agrapatna. Mr. Polke is by religion a Member of the Church of Ceylon and Mrs. Polke is a Roman Catholic, and her favourite Hobbies are gardening and dressmaking. Click HERE to read the full article.
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My Memoirs
By Manik Pereira
I started life as a young SD on Glenugie Division of Gouravilla Group, Upcot, having ''crept'' under the then Senior SD, John Drieberg. My PD was Peter Easteal whom I never met whilst I was a Creeper. Eventually, I got my appointment as Junior SD on the same property. The estate belonged to The Standard Tea Company, UK. Peter Easteal was not a popular planter as he did not mix with the "coloured" planters. His wife, however, was ever so kind & gentle. Click HERE to read more.
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Bearwell Estate, Talawakelle
Manager's Bungalow - Click HERE to view the album.
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CONTRIBUTOR PHOTO ALBUM OF THE MONTH
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Mike de Alwis
Click HERE to view the album
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PLANTER PROFILES OF THE MONTH
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(L-R) Nissanka Welikala & Douglas Mitchell
Click on respective photo to view profile
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DOWN MEMORY LANE...PAST & PRESENT!
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Ken Murray - Born to Entertain!
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THIS YEAR IN HISTORY - 1896
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Initiation of the Kalutara Planters' Association
Here are some other international events of significance in 1896.
- The X-ray machine is exhibited for the first time.
- Walter Arnold, of East Peckham, is fined 1 shilling for speeding at 8 mph (13 km/h) (exceeding the contemporary speed limit of 2 mph (3.2 km/h), the first speeding fine).
- Puccini's opera La bohème premieres in Turin, Italy.
- The opening ceremonies of the 1896 Summer Olympics, the first modern Olympic Games, are held in Athens, Greece.
- Publication begins for Der Eigene, the world's first magazine with an orientation to male homosexuality, by Adolf Brand in Berlin.
- Gottlieb Daimler builds the first worldwide gasoline truck.
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The world’s first tea inspired radio station
Tea Radio has developed a global audience reaching over 90 countries worldwide; with the promise of ‘music inspired by tea’, and features news and views on tea, tea gastronomy and more, amidst the music of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.
Stay updated on the latest tips and trends in the world of tea right here. Download the Tea Radio app on the Google play store or the Apple app store, or stream music inspired by Tea on www.tearadio.com.
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