Charles Stanley Braine - My grandad

Charles Stanley Braine (1874 - 1944). This photo may have been taken at Mawatte Estate, near Dankotuwa, Sri Lanka, where he was the Manager.

His gravestone at the General Cemetery, Negombo, in the Anglican Section.

Aunty B and Aunty Amy - A photo from the 1940's

Aunty B at 91

Aunty B (Bridget Wambeek), the favorite aunt of the family, will be 91 on February 19. I visited her last month at her home in South Harrow, a suburb of London. These photos were taken during that visit.

Clockwise from left: Jude, Anne (Aunty B's youngest son and oldest daughter), Aunty's niece Delphine (Aunty K's daughter), and me.

Old friends rediscovered

When my parents first came to Hantana, in 1984, the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) was managing the Hantana Housing Scheme. Two of the Authority's young employees were Perera and Saman. Those days, without cell phones, was hard to track down "field" employees who would sign the register and disappear into the scheme. Perera and Saman soon made friends with my parents (who were among the first residents at the Hantana Scheme) and would spend most of their working day hanging around the Braine household, attending to minor repairs, running errands, and dealing in cars (more about that in another posting). Perera and Saman were probably the most frequent visitors to my parents' home those days.

Perera. Below, Chandani and younger daughter Nimali.

In the early 1990's, Fawzia persuaded Perera and his wife Chandani to move to Pondside. They went with their daughter. Another daughter, Nimali, was born while they were at Pondside. However, their stay didn't work out (Chandani was fortunate to escape death from a stabbing) and they returned to Kandy. Fawzia and I were in the States at this time and we had little knowledge of what was going on. Eventually, although we returned to Hantana regularly, we lost touch with Perera and Chandani.

Then, a few months ago, my sister Beaula and I were taking a morning stroll when two women, mother and daughter, passed us, turned back, and asked if we were the Braine's. Although I had never met Chandani, I knew at once it was she. We were delighted to meet them again and to know that they, too, were living at Hantana in a house they had rented. My sister resides at Hantana now, and Perera and Chandani are regular visitors. Saman, who no longer lives at Hantana, also paid us a visit.

My only regret is that Fawzia didn't get to meet them before she passed away.

Old friends from Hantana

My parents moved into Hantana Housing Scheme in 1984. Some of their neighbors and friends still live at Hantana. Mr. Sidiqe and Kamali were close friends of my parents and remain my friends today. Sidiq is a retired civil servant, originally from Badulla, where he met Kamali. They have been residents of Hantana since the inception of the scheme. His children, Ishaan and Shama, were playmates of my son Roy when he lived my parents at Hantana before joining us in the States in 1987.

Sidiq and my father were among the first members of the welfare society which played an active role in those days. The society still exists but isn't as active now. Sidiqe still plays an important role in the society because no one knows the history of Hantana better.

Being absentee owners of our house at Hantana, Sidiqe has been of immense help to us in keeping our house going. He has supervised caretakers, collected the rent, and attended to repairs to the house. 

Vishwa and Shalinee are also old friends. They lived in the house above mine and were my parents' nearest neighbors. They no longer live in that house and have moved to another, but within Hantana. They are also keepers of memories. When we met last month, they expressed alarm and sadness at the passing of many of the original residents of Hantana.

Mrs. Howie passed away - RIP

HOWIE, FELICIA THELMA - Beloved wife of late Arthur, precious mother of Tyrone, Rosemary, Ryan, (late) Brian & Irvine, mother-in-law of Charmaine, Tony Johnson, Gaye & Yvette (all of Australia), grandmother of Tania, Nathalie, Stvart, Bradley, Natasha, Troy, Miles & Ingrid, great-grand mother of Dileshka, Jithvan, Jacob, Isaac, Ava & Troy. Funeral will take place on Friday 27th May. Cortege leaving funeral parlour (Nuwara Mal Salawa) at 3.00 pm for Service & internment at General Cemetary, Mahaiyawa, Kandy (Anglican Section). DMR 286332.

Old photos of the Braine clan

I was recently at Boralessa and, going thru Cousin Maries's photo albums, came across some old photos which are scanned and placed here.

This photos of grandma Engracia Nonis taken probably at The Meet, Boralessa, more than 80 years ago. The girl standing is Aunty Mary, grandma's child from a previous relationship, and shows how much older she was from her step-sisters and brothers.

Grandparents. They liked to pose with their dogs.

Wedding portrait of Aunty Alice taken at the Rest House, Negombo. From left, uncle George, Aunty Kate, Uncle Ned, Aunty Alice, unknown best man, and Aunty B. This photo must be nearly 70 years old. My dad used to say that it rained so much on the wedding day that the Maha Oya, near Kochchikade, was flooded up to the level of the bridge, and that the crossing was dangerous. They had to travel from Boralessa to Negombo for the wedding.



Cousin Marie carried by Aunty B. The guy is my dad Teddy. This photo, too, is nearly 70 years old.

A lovely portrait of Aunty Rosie with Marie, taken about 55 years ago. Photographers of that time knew how to produce more artistic images that have lasting appeal.



Uncle Ben taken during the World War II years.

1969, during Aunty B's first visit to Ceylon. Grandma, my dad, sister Beaula, and Aunty Rosie pose with the then Parish Priest of Kirimetyana, an old family friend.

Cousin Stan on his first holy communion day.