Thank you for a lifetime of service and dedication to Wesley College

Clifford was a true-blue product of Wesley College. He passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family, following a short illness.

I first met him in the early 1950’s in the primary school, when he was a year junior to me. I remember with such clarity Clifford playing cricket during the school intervals in the small park in Karlshrue Gardens with his friends. He did so with such energy, verve and vigour.

Clifford continued with his love of cricket and played for the 1st XI from 1961-63. Wrist spin has long been a wondrous skill that mesmerised batsmen. His memorable 8 wickets for 9 runs against a formidable Ananda College team will be remembered as one of the finest achievements by any schoolboy cricketer in Sri Lanka. This was a ritual annihilation. I was watching from the sidelines as Clifford simply bamboozled a succession of well-known batsmen by his wily flight and turn and immaculate line and length. It must have been bewildering and more than a little frustrating to be confronted by such vicious spin for which no one seemed to have an answer.

Clifford Rodrigo became an instant superstar for this most remarkable feat.

Despite all this adulation he remained modest and wore his honours lightly.

Being genteel and refined, at school he kept away from the mischief and naughtiness that was ever present. I remember Clifford as a charming, soft spoken and cultured person. He was kind and generous and had a fine sense of humour. All through his school career and beyond he was a deeply religious person, and kept his faith right to the very end.

My abiding memory of Clifford at school is of a lad who was always well turned out. His school uniforms were starched and ironed and his hair Brylcreemed and neatly combed back. He continued this elegance into later life when he appeared at school functions in dapper suits with great style and grace. He conducted himself with politeness and courtesy at school meetings even when they were rather intense at times.

After leaving school he continued to play cricket for the Burgher Recreation Club. Clifford was a fine hockey player too captaining the Mercantile Hockey Association Team in 1971 and being selected as the Best Player that year.

Clifford held responsible managerial positions in Carsons and Shaw Wallace and Hedges. I understand from personal communications that when he was a manager at JEDB in Avissawella he conducted himself with great dignity and was ever helpful to the many planters who visited.

For me it was a great pleasure to see Clifford at the Grand Reunion at Wesley College in 2012 in the familiar surroundings of the Great Hall and at Campbell Park. Although I saw him after more than 50 years, time just melted away as we spoke. We reminisced at length of those glorious years recalling warmly of sports, friends and teachers of our time.

Formidably industrious, he combined his day job with a multitude of assignments and activities related to Wesley College. Although surprisingly shy, he was meticulous, knowledgeable and clear-minded, with a rigour of intellect that allowed him to see through problems. Clifford was a great help to the organisation. I am aware that Clifford always remained close to the school through the Old Boys Union. He was an office bearer and remained a stalwart of the Old Wesleyites Sports Club. He also functioned as the indefatigable Prefect of Games keeping our sports in the forefront. He provided a great service to Old Boys worldwide by his Annual Sports Reviews. Those newsletters were honest, comprehensive and a pleasure to read.

We will always remember his loyalty and commitment to Wesley. He carried out his duties to the school he loved with great devotion. For his allegiance and service to the school over so many decades Clifford will forever be remembered at Wesley.

On behalf of the worldwide brotherhood of Wesleyites, I wish to thank Clifford Rodrigo for a lifetime of support for Wesley and for the immense contribution to the life of the school.

We pass on our deepest sympathies to the family at this time of grief.

As we say for cricketers, “May the turf lay lightly on him”.