Ratwatte was the oldest living Lion

Sharm DE ALWIS

Hubert Ratwatte was at the time of his death last week, the oldest living Trinity Rugger Lion. He was awarded the coveted honour in 1936 alongside Sammy David, E. Dodanwela, O.L. Izadeen and Duncan Reith.

Cricket Colours

In cricket he was awarded Colours in 1937 alongside Duncan Reith and G.P. Schoorman.

On leaving school, Hubert joined the Excise Department and retired in 1970 as Senior Superintendent. Hubert's son Naresh won his cricket Colours in 1970 under the captaincy of Jayantha Weerasinghe.

Naresh's son Naren emulated his father to be an opening bat and captained St Thomas' to win the Big Match in 1999.

Hubert's eldest brother Clement was sent to St Thomas' because of the Bulankulame connection and although he played cricket for two years with moderate success, his shining achievement was getting the wicket of J.R. Jayawardena in 1925 for the Old Fox to brag in later years that he avenged the wicket by "getting another Ratwatte out."

Clement's son Jayantissa reverted to the mainstream school of the Ratwattes and was awarded the cricket Lion in 1959 alongside Seneca de Chickera, Malsiri Kurukulasuriya and Nimal Maralanda before his captaincy year of 1960.

Jayantissa also won his rugger Colours, pairing off as stand-off with captain/scrum-half Denzil Kobbekaduwa. Others who were awarded rugger Colours in 1959 were Gama Fernando, Jayantha Jayawardena, Sari de Sylva, Rohan Madena, Malcolm Talwatte, Ken Murray, T.H. Chunchie, Tyronne Hermon and Rihal Madugalle.

Opening bat

The third in Hubert's family was Tiddy who was also an opening bat and won Trinity cricket Colours in 1933 along with Rex Breckenridge, M.C. Buultjens, Sammy David, L. de Silva and O.L.Izadeen.

The youngest brother Asoka was the full-back in the inaugural Bradby game captained by Robert Sourjah which Trinity won on an aggregate of 6 points to 3, having lost the Colombo Leg 0-3.