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Remembering Charlie Ramanadan-by Dushy Perera
Source:Thuppahis
Tomorrow, 15th March marks the 30th death anniversary of J C Ramanadan , Charlie as we all fondly called him. He died literally in my arms when he suffered a hear attack on the court whilst partnering his son Pravin at the Annual Dickoya Tennis tournament where I was the chair umpire.
When he fell attempting to pick up a drop shot at the net, I walked down from the umpires box and told him , Charlie , get up you b….r and play on. Alas , it was not to be . I cradled him in my arms sitting on the ground with him, where he was , gasping for breath.
There was Dr Niles and a group of medical students who were spectators of the match ,who tried to resuscitate him with no avail. We took him in a green leaf lorry to Dickoya Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
I was emotionally devastated , but plucked up my courage to write the attached Appreciation which was published in the Ceylon Daily News a couple of days later. It was a singular effort ( many thought, that it was drafted by Tanya, but was not so )
Hope you can get a nice picture of Charlie from one of the children and upload to your blog site.
Best wishes, Dushy
