|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 20 September 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Dr. A.D. John a versatile sports star Premasara Epasinghe Recently, while I was turning the pages of the Thomian scrap book of my son, Bhagya, I came across a quotation of Warden Buck. "You belong to one of the best schools in the world, a school with traditions. Being proud to be a Thomian and make the college proud of numbering you among its sons. Remember whatever you do and wherever you go, your life and your action will reflect either credit or discredit on the college, where you were trained and to which you owe so much. You have learned the best lessons in the world at S. Thomas College.
I trust not only English, Mathematics and Classics but true manliness and truth, courage, purity and all those things that make a man and gentleman. Try not to forget them but be Men & Gentlemen Always". Way back in 1966/1967 I met an old Thomian who epitomised these valuable qualities - true manliness and truth, courage, purity and all those things that make a man and a fine gentleman. I met him when I was a graduate teacher and village school master in the historic wilds of Sigiriya. He is none other than that gentleman-par-excellence Dr. A. D. John - District Medical Officer (DMO), Dambulla. He was a venerable sportsman and national player-cum-coach of badminton. He is considered as the pioneer of badminton in Ceylon. Further he was an outstanding Gymnast, Swimmer, Athlete and Tennis player. It was late Dr. Sivaramalingam based in Kimbissa who introduced me to Dr. John. I played tennis with Siva, John and company at Dambulla in the late 1960s. Pioneer in badminton The game of badminton was supposed to have begun in Ceylon in the 1930s. Dr. John and his brother Dr. Victor were associated with the introduction of the game at S. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia. These two brothers came from Malaysia to further their education at the school by the sea. The sporting warden Canon R. S. de Saram, was so enthusiastic to introduce badminton at S.' Thomas College after a discussion he had with John brothers. Dr. John hails from a highly respected medical family. His father Dr. I. S. John was a surgeon. He was a fellow of Royal Faculty of Physicians, Surgeons and Gynaecologists. His mother's name was Anna Pakkiam. He joined the colonial service and worked in Perak, Malaysia. Later they came to Singapore. Dr. A. D. John's guardian was Canon de Saram. The first competitive badminton match was played by S. Thomas College with Tamil Recreation Club. It was a mixture of staff and students team. Sub warden Dr. R. L. Hayman was an English county player. Rev. A. J. Foster and Rev. Cyril Abeynayake encouraged the boys to improve their skill in badminton. Gymnast Dr. John was a outstanding versatile sportsman. He loved gymnastics. With a fellow Thomian boxer late S. K. Gunawardene they formed the Gymnastic Association of Ceylon. S. K. Gunawardene was later the principal at St. Michaels College, Polwatta, Colpetty who earned a big name in boxing. Swimmer - Diver & Athlete Dr. John is a born sportsman. Swimming, diving and athletics are some of the other disciplines that he shone, other than badminton. In the 1940's S. Thomas College possessed some of the best school boy swimmers. " I could not get my swimming colours at college. To obtain Thomian swimming colours in late 1940s you must reach the national standard. That was the era where Darley Ingleton, was dominating the pool. I think I was good. But not upto the mark compared with our other Thomian swimmers. Later when I entered the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ceylon I had the distinction of captaining the university swimming team," stated Dr. John. Badminton champion In 1947/1948 he won the Badminton Singles Championship in the university. The University of Ceylon won the Collin Shield which was considered as the "Plum of Inter Club Badminton." If my memory serves right, the champion team consisted of K. D. Dharmaratnam, R. P. Nadarajah, N. Balasundaram, Devapura and Dr. A. D. John. He was one of the best badminton players produced by Ceylon at that era. Incidents, unforgettable memories All outstanding sportsmen and sportswomen have many unforgettable memorable memories in their career. I wish to include two interesting incidents in Dr. John's distinguished career. At S. Thomas College they were one family. There were no barriers - caste, creed, race or religion. They were all equal and persuaded their higher studies like brothers. During those war days in 1940s S. Thomas was shifted to Getambe, Peradeniya for security reasons. The students were lodged in different boarding houses. Dr. John occupied a house with a teacher called Mr. Wise. His nick name was "Tigs." One day after dinner some of his school friends came to see him. This batch of students included the highly respected civil servant and former Minister of Finance Ronnie de Mel, Sepala Illangakoon and few others. "They were cheerful and possessed full of life and were naughty. When they were leaving our boarding house Ronnie, Sepala and company with the top of their voices yelled "Ado Jigs' Ado Jigs", annoy Mr. Wise just for fun. Mr. Wise's two sons were there. They ran in search of the culprits. Unfortunately for Ronnie he has runaway leaving behind his slippers, where his name was inscribed. Due to this lapse, all of them got caught and warden Saram, a strict disciplinarian, punished all of them and removed them from their prefectship. Later their positions as prefects were re-instated. Ronnie was one of the brilliant students that S. Thomas produced during our time. He was a genius. He came first in the island with the London Matriculation Examination. We were all proud of his academic prowess," stated Dr. John. Humanitarian Act - Saves a life Another incident he recollects is a humanitarian act in saving a life. "On a rainy day Warden Saram and I were walking along Getambe rail track towards our hostel - "Ferrens". An old man walking in front of us, fell through the rail track of the raging, gushing torrents of Mahaweli waters. Warden knew that I was not only a swimmer but also a life saver. He told me, "John save that poor man. God will help you." I took a chance swiftly, jumped dived and brought the old man to the river bund. Warden was very happy that I saved an innocent man's life. Hearing this adventurous incident Dr. Hayman sent me a congratulatory message written in a post card which I still preserve," expressed Dr. John. Specialist in sports medicine Dr. John is a specialist in sports medicine too. He helped many sportsmen and sportswomen to cure their sports injuries. At the SAF games held in Sri Lanka in 1990s he was one of the doctors who attended to the athletes. A fine, gentle doctor Dr. John served more than three decades as a doctor attached to government service in various parts of the island. He held many prestigious positions in the field of medicine in his distinguished career. Badminton coach When he was DMO, Ambalangoda he coached the badminton teams at Dharmasoka, Ambalangoda which became the cradle of badminton of Sri Lanka for many years. Ariyadasa Silva, a teacher attached to Dharmasoka was another gentleman who helped the Ambalangoda and Galle badminton players in a big way. After retirement he served the Ceylon Tobacco Company Limited and Swedish Hospital in Kandy. Dr. John is one of the nicest gentlemen that I have met in my life. He is unassuming and always acted according to the principles and helped the needy. He got married in 1958 to a lady doctor Elayne Waifong Paktsun. She served the government for more than a decade. Charming lady Elayne is a tower of inspiration to Dr. John. In short she is the wind behind his wings. They have five charming pleasant lovable sons and three daughters. They are Michael, David, Christopher, Andrew, Jeremy, Melani, Anna and Mitchell. I consider as a great honour and a privilege to associate this gentle charming doctor and play tennis with him at Dambulla. I am sure Dr. John can still remember my cross-court driving which he loved to return. He is undoubtedly a champion player. He is a gentleman-par-excellence and a fine human being and an ornament to the medical profession as well as the society. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
