Through the pages of time......

1896. The year the inaugural meeting of the ‘Bambalapitiya Recreation Club’ was held at the back of the house of “Ardgowan”, occupied at the time by Mr. F. J. Lucas Fernando of Ceylon. The year the male residents of Havelock Town were offered the perfect spot to drop by for all their recreational and sporting pastimes…

The first home of the BRC was the grounds at the back of F. J. Lucas Fernando’s residence in Bambalapitiya. Not ungrateful but ever hopeful, the members of the BRC, together with other residents of the suburb, put forward a memorial to the government, asking for the opening of a park in the locality. Thus, Havelock Park was formally opened to the public in 1901, and a part of this ground was appointed to the BRC for the laying down of a cricket pitch. And so began the memorable journey of a way-of-life that was also known as “See you at the Club…”!

 

Year

Event

1901

9th November - BRC wins their first ever cricket match when they beat the Clairmont Cricket Club by 9 runs

1915

31st May – The club is renamed as ‘Burgher recreation Club’. Only those qualified to vote for the Burgher Electorate were eligible for membership

1915

The game of croquet was introduced

1921

The Proprietary Members Scheme was launched but later wound up on the 31st of December 1930

1922

A new pavilion was built and opened by the Mayor of Colombo

1926

BRC elected as the Cricket Champions of the Year. His Excellency the Governor of Colombo, Sir Hugh Clifford attended the function

1928

17th February – Mr. C.K Joachim gifts the club with an electric wall clock

1932

10th October – The BRC Ladies’ Hockey Section was launched

1935

The Burgher Education Fund was initiated by Mr. M.E.A.La Harpe

1936

The Students Section in Cricket and Soccer was launched

1938

President of the Club, Dr. V.R. Schokman elected Mayor of Colombo

1941

7th April – CMC asks if the BRC will vacate the grounds, as the CMC was considering opening the park to the general public

1942

January – British Admiralty takes over the Club pavilion at Havelock Park for naval use. The Club moves to No. 33, Dawson Road, Havelock Town on 1st February

1942

April – The Club moves to No. 50, Dickman Road, after the previous location was requisitioned for military use. BRC members were offered use of the Dutch Burgher Union Tennis Club down Bullers Road on three days of the week

1946

1st July – BRC moves to ‘Delhurst’, No 14, Dawson Road, Havelock Town

1946

27th December – BRC celebrates 50 years with a dance at the Colombo Town Hall

1947

B.R.Heyn elected Captain of the Ceylon Cricket team that went to Madras. B.R. Heyn captained Ceylon in two branches of sports, cricket and hockey

1952

Carnival held at the Club grounds

1952

11th June – A Ladies Section was incorporated into the Club. Misses C.A. Walles, N.P. Kelaart and D.C Kelaart were the first lady members to be elected. It was also decided that membership be opened to all citizens of Ceylon

1953

Under the Captaincy of B.R.Heyn, BRC are joint winners with SSC and the NCC of the P. Sara Trophy

1954

BRC are joint winners with Colt CC for the P. Sara Trophy

1955

1st January – Provident Fund for BRC employees was introduced. Havelock Seniors win the Soft Ball Tournament trophy

1956

December – BRC celebrates its Diamond Jubilee with a dance at the Mount Lavinia Hotel

BRC won the P. Sara Trophy under the Captaincy of Ernie Kelaart.

1957

Mr. Edmund Reiners, MBE Vice Patron, honored by the Queen of Netherlands for his research of the Dutch in Ceylon

1961

25th November – BRC inaugurates a Seven-a-Side Ladies Hockey Tournament for the Bill Ingram Challenge Cup

1961

23rd December – 5th Anniversary dance held at Tropicana, Horton Place, Colombo 07

1966

29th December – Dinner in honour of Major General B. Russell Heyn, in honour of his appointment as Commander of the Army

1969

August – BRC conducts a Six-a-Side Cricket Tournament

1973

BRC is affiliated to the Billiards Association and Control Council

 

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