By Nihal D Amerasekera
Friendships
are one of life’s golden gifts. Those made in our youth are specially gilded to
last a lifetime.It is hard to replicate that closeness in associations later on
in life. In our life’s journey we find companions who walk with us a short way
and move out of our sight whilst others remain with us longer. Unlike for our
parents, moving far and moving abroad has become common place now. With
smartphones and social media keeping in touch is so much easier. But still
there are a myriad of factors that keep us apart. Above all there must be the
will to maintain contact. How many of those who started Med School with us keep
in touch now? There are a large number who prefer to move on in life, or be
reclusive and remain incommunicado.
This is not
a eulogy for Lubber as he is very much alive but an appreciation of our
friendship of many years. After five gruelling years in medical school we
worked together for another four years in the Central Blood Bank in Colombo, a
large slice of our young lives. We managed to hang on to our friendship despite
the distances, careers, family commitments and the many bouquets and brickbats
of life. It is indeed a tribute to our friendship.
I recall
most vividly the legendary Law-Medical, the intrusion into the cricket match at
Reid Avenue and questioning the umpire. The gory details are best forgotten and
buried deep. I am certain a résumé is analysed and remembered at reunions and
gatherings after a generous dash of the social lubricant. At our final year
trip, Lubber’s memorable performance took centre stage. In the chill night-air he wore just his tie
and nil else. When asked who he was, he said “I am Argyle Robertson’s pupil”.
Even now, this legendary moment never fails to raise a smile. That was a
fitting farewell to a journey none of us will ever forget. When this episode
was mentioned
My first
meeting with Lubber in med school was perhaps unremarkable, hence lost in the
fog of time. I do recall Sunil De Silva’s long tale of how his classmate from
Royal College ,Asoka Wijeyakoon, came to be called Lubber. It seemed Asoka’s
teenage swagger on terra firma was
like that of a sailor. The term ‘land lubber’ was shortened to lubber. Although
most plausible, Sunna’s stories were told with a poker face blurring the fine
line between fact into fiction. Despite being at either end of the alphabet we
met up in the common room for a tea and a chat.The common room was a very
special place for us medical students. It was our own retreat and shelter from
the storms of Faculty life. I have often watched him deep in thought over a
game of chess with Satchy. He joined in the conversations with his endless
stream of wise-cracks. Listening to the repartee between Chanaka Wijesekera,
Sunil De Silva and Lubber Wijeyakoon was spontaneous comedy at its best. It moved
from the ridiculous to the farcical. The ‘one liners’were brilliantly intelligent
and hilariously funny. Those were indeed touches of genius taking the noble art
of comedy to a whole new level. I wish we had smartphones to record those
treasures for posterity. Their quick wit and humour must swirl in the ether of
that common room, despite the years. The Faculty years passed swiftly. After the
‘finals’ we were thrust into the lions’ den of the wider world. Then marriage
and careers usurped our lives. None of it was easy!!
I was
thrilled to see that familiar swagger entering the Central Blood Bank in
Colombo when I was a Medical Officer of that institution in the early 1970’s.
We clicked instantly. I was then a drifter at a loose end and was grateful for
his company. I do recall our evenings at some of the popular bars discussing
philosophy, politics and religion.Those were heady days of idealism, ambition
and youthful optimism.There were occasions I joined Lubber for company in his
blood donation programs in the out-stations. One that stands out is a trip to
Galgamuwa on the road to Anuradhapura. We stayed at the DMO’s quarters as he
was away. Emptying his fridge of the amber nectar we chatted deep into the
night when we heard a group of girls singing “Oyathamai Bambaketu ekkana”. In our
inebriation they sounded like a choir of angels. Then again, we spent a
memorable evening in the verandah of the Nikeweratiya Rest House polishing a
bottle of Molasses discussing the world, politics and our ambitions and
aspirations. These images still haunt me.
I recall
the dark days of 1960’s and 70’s with sadness. Sri Lankan politics was in
turmoil. The economy was in a perilous state. Our lives and careers were at a
standstill. Those were shambolic and difficult times for the people. There were
strict import restrictions. The roads were packed with ageing vehicles. “Tighten
your belts” was the popular ‘sound bite’ of the government. We soon became
accustomed to the vagaries and the intrigue of Sri Lankan politics. During this
chaotic period the country experienced a massive brain drain. Jobs were scarce,
and many left for greener pastures abroad. I remember it so well. Mahendra Gonsalkorala,
Lubber and I debating the pros and cons of leaving Sri Lanka.We couldn’t see an
end to the political and economic crisis that crippled our country. They were
emotionally charged discussions that left us in a wilderness of confusion.
After much
deliberation we joined the rest of the herd for greener pastures abroad. Although
I had agonised about it, I never realised the enormity of that decision. My youthful
exuberance protected me from the fear of reality. I was immensely fortunate to
have Lubber to travel with me to the UK. We boarded the Swissair DC10 and comforted
each other until our transit at Zurich. We were dying for a beer. Money was in
short supply and we had to syndicate to share a bottle that calmed our nerves. After
a change of plane we disembarked at Heathrow airport. I can still remember that
cold and wet June afternoon in 1974. There on the concourse of the airport we said
our goodbyes and parted company. Lubber disappeared into a Psychiatric Hospital
in the heart of Sussex. I started my journey in Pathology in Chase Farm
Hospital in Greater London. We kept in touch and met up a few times. Each time
we had some drinks and listened to our favourite Sinhala music of Victor
Ratnayake which brought back fond memories of our final few years in Colombo. To
be frank it was a tough time for us in the UK too. As we drowned in our careers
and family obligations there was hardly any time to keep up with friends.There
were long periods of silence and we never met on our journey up the
professional ladder. When I went into the abstract world of Radiology, Lubber
became a respected Consultant Psychiatrist in a London Hospital.
It was a
couple of decades later I met Lubber again this time in his pad in London when
he cooked a meal for me and the family. We talked a lot about times past, of mutual
friends and the pleasures and perils of life. After we parted our contact
remained an occasional phone call, out of the blue, and a warm query on how life
treated us. It was a shock to our system when our children left the nest. He is
rightly proud of his two sons who are Consultants in the National Health
Service.
The years
rolled by as retirement loomed. Our careers ended as it started with uncertainty
and some trepidation. The next I heard of Lubber was when he left the UK. A
little birdie told me he was living it up in Bangkok and spending his
retirement in ‘well earned’ luxury. No doubt it’s everyone dream to be happy. I
thought I had lost contact completely until one day, on a whim, I used an old
phone number and sent him a message on WhatsApp. A few days passed and to my surprise I got a
reply. His messages were brief and always after a prolonged latent period.
In May this
year I booked a family holiday in Bangkok. Lubber now spends time in Colombo and
Bangkok. He made a special effort to be in Bangkok during my visit. He invited
us to stay with him in his condominium. Getting into a taxi and finding a
location in Thailand is fraught with difficulty due to language problems. Never
being a part of the British Empire, Thai people do not speak much English. We
felt it would be best to meet near my hotel. It was such a pleasure to see him
again, a little more grey and more rotund than I knew. He decided to stay the
night at my hotel in the best top floor room. We started a drink in his room
and caught up with the lost years of friends, family and our life’s journey. Lubber is tremendous company with or without a drink and
has retained many of his formidable intellectual gifts. As always after a drink
his wit and humour takes over. We had a fine seafood dinner followed by more drink
and chat. Unlike the hard-nosed yours truly, Lubber has a certain empathy for
the less fortunate and the downtrodden. He rewarded the waiters and waitresses
most generously. We parted company not
knowing if we would ever meet again.
After several months I was pleasantly
surprised to hear from him in London. He was staying in a hotel near Moorgate
where we decided to meet. It was wonderful to see him again. Lubber is as
always upbeat about life but very aware of the ironies, mirages and illusions
that we all must face. Now more than ever life’s oases and their many pleasures
drift past us far too quickly. We spoke for just a couple of hours as he had to
take a taxi to Heathrow Airport for his return to Colombo. As I think about life,
I am convinced more than ever, our lives are a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside
and enigma – to misquote Winston Churchill.
When I look
back the memories of 50+ years, Lubber is a kind, sociable friend and a unique
human being. This is not an attempt to deify him. He too has the same faults we
all possess. As in his youth Lubber is extraordinarily frank, fears no one and still
retains an aura of gravitas from his ‘consultant’ days. He has the remarkable
ability to bring to any discussion a huge degree of intelligence derived from
lateral thinking. I am ever grateful we were able to meet. Let us hope we have
the good fortune to meet again. It is said we go back to the beginning as we
get to the end. There will not be a better place than Colombo for the next
time. As always,we must leave that to the awesome forces of destiny.
*****************************************************************************
Note from the Blog Administrator:
In response to some of the comments, and specifically for the benefit of Rohini Ana and Zita who cannot place or remember Lubber, let me introduce him as best as I could. This is in addition to Sumathi's excellent description of the man. He is in the decent looking pictures below, all of which were taken on the all male Final Year Trip in 1966.
I have another one which I don't want to show right now, although I did include it in my powerpoint presentation at a recent Batch Reunion. Reunion was different because it was a restricted audience unlike the blog which is in the public domain.
After all, a picture is worth a thousand words!
*****************************************************************************
Note from the Blog Administrator:
In response to some of the comments, and specifically for the benefit of Rohini Ana and Zita who cannot place or remember Lubber, let me introduce him as best as I could. This is in addition to Sumathi's excellent description of the man. He is in the decent looking pictures below, all of which were taken on the all male Final Year Trip in 1966.
I have another one which I don't want to show right now, although I did include it in my powerpoint presentation at a recent Batch Reunion. Reunion was different because it was a restricted audience unlike the blog which is in the public domain.
After all, a picture is worth a thousand words!
 |
| Start - Lubber is squatting on the ground between Yoga and Lameer |
 |
| Kegalle - Lubber is standing in the second row between VPH Rajapaksa and Speedy |
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| Kegalle - Squatting behind ND, Lama and Bertie Nana |
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| Kurunegala - Lubber is behind Jaimon and Chandrasiri (Johnny) |
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| Badulla with "The Igloo" HO's quarters in the background. Lubber is squatting behind Lakshman Jayasinghe and Yankee Bala |
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| Hatton - near the place where we were entertained by the senior doctors in Hatton. Lubber is standing between Nalin Nana and Chanaka |
