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by Ilika Karunaratne

Back in Colombo on a sentimental journey on an all too brief visit, was Peter White, who lived here from 1946 - 1963. Peter left our shores, as Head of Anglo-Ceylon Estates Ltd which owned Bois Bros and was a Director of Bois Bros too, he took over as Head of Anglo Ceylon in Mauritius their interests in Mauritius were mainly in sugar at that time.

"I was nine years old when I first came to Ceylon. My stepfather was in the Indian Army; we lived here and then went to India, where I went to school at the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College in Dehra Dun. It was very famous in the 1920's as a school where pupils included sons of Royals and Maharajahs of princely states. The Rolls Royces would roll in at end of term for the princes and there was I a minority leaving for my home in a Tonga (cart with a horse).

Several Field Marshalls, Generals and Admirals from both India and Pakistan went to school there. At school reunions, they would tease each other about how they intercepted each others calls and called each other by their school day nick-names even in battle."

This shows how futile war is; men fighting against each other, sometimes even friends doing so with nothing against each other in their own hearts. "I started as a tea taster here and then moved up the ladder at Bois Bros." Peter, who has an easy camaraderie and chivalrous manners, threw himself into the social swim and activities here, enjoying every minute of it.

"Bois Bros owned Elephant House too at that time. I did a lot of rowing and was a part of the amateur theatre group productions by the CADA. We staged several Noel Coward plays. I was often asked to be compere at various shows. I compered a Radio quiz show called 'Pick a Box' for Nestles on a regular basis and recall Nestles chocolates generously thrown to the audience."

Sri Lanka's loss was Mauritius's gain when Peter was sent there and at the same time promoted on to The Board of Anglo Ceylon Estates in London. Peter is warm hearted, generous, has a subtle skill for putting people at their ease; can be sassy, steely and sometimes full of chutzpah! As one who has known him for a long while and count him among my dearest friends, I know that he enters wholeheartedly into peoples' lives, wherever he lives, and shares their triumphs and disasters. "In Mauritius, our company interests were mainly in sugar and in hotels. My experience in Tea here, made me explore the possibility of developing it there too, so with the help of other sugar companies there, we built a tea factory in Mauritius. I was in Mauritius for 33 years, till I retired."

I have visited Peter in Mauritius; he lived like a king there, in a beautiful palatial house on a sugar planation. I recall a prawn farm too in his vast garden. "The Lonro Group bought our company. This company has interests all over Africa and the U.S. in mining, hotels, breweries, sugar and tea. We began sugar projects in the Sudan, Ivory Coast and Malawi. I was made Chairman of all the sugar interests throughout Africa and made a Director of the Lonro Board in London."

Peter's life has been a voyage of discovery, starting with tea, sugar and hotels, but Sri Lanka has always remained close to his heart. From the moment he arrived this time, he was off looking for familiar places and faces. Peter is Australian born and spends January to March each year in Perth, Australia to escape the bleak, cold winter in England. Their visit here this time was on their way to Oz to introduce his wife Charlotte, who has never been here, to the beauty of our country. He also brought two other couples with him. One of them is from the family, which started Marks and Spencers and retired from their Board last year.

"I edited the journal of the Automobile Association here with J.P. Obeysekera and visited him this time. I used to do all the commentaries for the motor races. I visited Geoffrey Bawa too, at his home in Bentota. It was very sad to see him as an invalid. While in Mauritius, I bought an old sugar mill and got Geoffrey to come over and design its conversion into a residence. It was admired very much and then friends of mine there, the Carimijee's got Geoffrey to design their home too."

I wondered what first impressions, Charli, Peter's wife had of our country. "I love everything I have seen especially Kandalama, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya, where the gardens are beautifully maintained." I think the only thing Charli didn't like and rather frightened her was the driving and bad traffic manners. I couldn't agree with her more, often being tempted to ask errant drivers if they were driving on a dogs licence!

What did Peter think of Sri Lanka now, having only been back once in 1979 for a two day visit? In fact I teased him saying that he only comes to visit when an UNP government is in power! "I find less open spaces in Colombo; it has all been built up, but then this is so all over the world. I visited 'Summerhill' my old bungalow in N'Eliya, but it was very misty and we couldn't see much of N'Eliya.

We visited Bentota, Galle, Kandy, N'Eliya, Kandalama, Sigiriya and Polonnarwa on this trip. I enjoyed showing Charli and our friends, all the places of which I have such pleasant memories. I recall sleeping at the top of Sigiriya in my youth. I didn't try that this time but we all climbed right to the top.

It has been beautifully restored. We loved Kandalama too. But, I was surprised to find a lot of land outside Colombo still unutilised. I'm sure this can be made use of for agriculture. We were also very impressed with the strides made in handicrafts and the layout of the shops. Particularly, Odels, Paradise Road and Barefoot.

Although, surprisingly, none of these had the sterling silver Rice spoons, Charli had set her heart on to match one I had bought while living here and we had to go back to my old jewellers, Hemachandras for these."

I hope Peter and Charli will return for a longer stay next time and hope that SriLankan Airlines will make it easier by providing a special package deal for travel from Britain to Australia through Sri Lanka. This will certainly increase tourist traffic.

I have visited Peter and Charli in Bath where they live now. Bath is a lovely old town - a restful place for retirement. Their home is like a little bit of Sri Lanka with beautifully crafted pieces from here, displayed with pride and care.

It was lovely to have them here. Peter's chivalry remains the same. It felt good to have someone opening doors for me and seeing me safely into the car and through doors. A rare privilege here! Peter's infectious bonhomie has refreshed my spirit and renewed my natural optimism.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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