APPRECIATION

Memories of Marjorie

Undertakings of this nature are usually thrust upon those with Dutch courage or at those who have mastered the art of a flourishing pen nourished by the queen's mother tongue. Arguably having neither, this voluntary undertaking to sing praise to the memory of my mother-in-law Marjorie is by no means an extension beyond the realm of the well established norm.

Let this then be the exception to the standard or rewriting of rule numero uno in the in-law book.

Marjorie's parents must have foreseen her future association and close DNA link to the universally patronized English language to honour her with an English name for starters, when none of her two brothers or sisters was bestowed with such a daunting burden. So it is fair to say, her destiny was cast in stone even on her birth certificate. Her initiation to school began in Colombo and ended in Kandy and upon completion of higher studies, she began her career at a nearby school as a teacher. She also married her childhood sweetheart Herbert, which subsequently resulted in four healthy offspring, three sons and a solitary daughter being born. And it was during this tumultuous period that she opened her eyes to the idea of opening her very own school. Thus the Marjorie de Alwis School of Music, Speech, Ballet and Drama was born in 1966.

As a trailblazer and a visionary, it was but natural to expand her vast repertoire to a productive, higher form of teaching English as a language via a creative curriculum encompassing such fun subjects as music, speech, ballet and drama for grades up to year twelve and beyond. Then she began to realise the real value of an early education. Thus the foundation was cast in the form of opening a preschool to give kids a proper jump start in life. This resulted in the Marjorie de Alwis kindergarten being born in 1975.

Her undying effort to impart a sound, modern education began with the development of her own methods and imitable personal style honed over the years, which overtime became legendary. The stamp of official recognition soon came her way in the form of being the first private recipient to be bestowed with a makeshift scholarship to visit the British isle schools to observe and exchange views with the educational authorities there. This singular honour brought forth the much needed foreign expose and thereafter the impetus to strive even harder to get the best from the worst student that came her way. Numerous examples of that magnanimous, sincerest effort are not only visible in the island of today, but also in the four corners of the world for all to see, applaud, admire and appreciate.

She was also blessed with an enormous capacity to give generously to those in need, irrespective of their station in society. As an active participant of religious activities, she gave her all when the need arose or called upon and on her own intuition and initiative. As a result, numerous charitable institutions and religious organizations benefited from this magnanimous, magnificent lady's goodwill and loving kindness to one and all. Her immediate family and friends too were bestowed with this bottomless reservoir of give in plentiful abundance.

Those who met her socially were overtly impressed by her graceful and elegant bearing and although a power dresser par excellence, they soon began to realise that she also possessed an uncomplicated, easygoing, childlike innocence. This was a welcome breath of fresh air in an overtly materialistic society devoid of simplicity and simple pleasures, barren with compassion and full of empty razzmatazz, jealousy and hoarded hatred. But all in all, these are not the numerous whys I decided to sing her praise in public to commemorate her passing away three months ago.

It is in appreciation of her wonderful sense of humour and her capacity to find the right tone, subtext and delivery in just the right context and balance.

So, farewell thoroughly entertaining family matriarch and for the almighty laughs and the joyous times you left us as precious, intoxicating memories. May you find eternal peace and happiness (Nibbana) knowing jolly well that you bade farewell by leaving this world a better place for all and sundry and having made a significant difference to those who sought your guidance and kingship.

Keith J.