Percy Balalle - end of an innings

Sharm DE ALWIS

He was named after Percy Bysshe Shelley but even though he was a batch-mate of Trinity's Poet Laureate, Kingsley Moonamalle who had also aspired to the sobriquet of Bog house Shelley, Percy quickly unclothed himself from the culture of literature and, instead, devoted his time and energies to cricket.

In 1953 when he kept wickets for Trinity and won his colours alongside Mano Ganesar, Dharmasiri Madugalle, S P D Ramanayake, Hector Ratwatte and Lucky Vitarane, Percy Balalle was style personified.

He was the most competent keeper when he wore gloves. His cameo a few runs shy of half a century lent colour and poise to the partnership with his captain which helped to draw the game with St Thomas'.

The Balalles hold a unique record in the realms of the country's school cricket. Elder citizen R B Balalle kept wickets under J H Bandaranayake and Percy Maralanda. Son, Percy and Percy's son Mevan were quintessential behind the stumps with the latter having been awarded the coveted Lion. Although Percy's brother Tissa preferred bowing to stick work, his son Tushitha kept wickets.

This is a record that escaped the Bulankulames of STC. P B Bulankulame had been at Trinity before he decamped and joined STC to keep wickets and for his son, Patchy and grandson to take to "the family business".

Percy and I were two peas in a pod from our early years in the Matron's Dorm and we were soon to be joined by Kingsley Moonamalle even though he was a maverick. School vacations did not keep us apart. We would meet on a daily basis and roam the hinterlands of Kurunegala, climbing the rocks, strolling around the lake, cycling to outposts and repeating the episodes without any degree of tedium.

As most Trinitians of the era, Percy joined the Planting sector and served a lengthy period which culminated as Deputy Chairman of the JEDB in Badulla. On retirement he had a spell as the General Manager of the Island Group of Companies.

Percy never retired. Until he was felled by a terminal illness he worked as the Manager of Noritake's 'The Grand' showrooms.

His cremation will be at Kanatte cemetery on Thursday at 4.00 pm.