Till we meet again Des Kelly……Rest now, in God’s loving care – By TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE
It is with shock and deep sadness it was to Anne and I to be informed of the passing of our friend and father figure Des Kelly.
In fact our families have all interacted with him and miss him dearly, after meeting him at our home when he visited often during the days he got around.
Our interaction with him began with a phone call to me around 15 years ago. He wanted me to drop by for a conversation. It was about wanting me to contribute stories the the Lanka Times which he was the Editor of.
Knowing of my commitment to another publication in Melbourne he put it subtly to me that he would be happy if I could forward stories not used in the other paper for the Lanka Times. That meeting with Anne and I at his Victor Avenue residence in Dandenong North was the start of a friendship and our lasting interaction in journalism which continued till the end.
Des had an adaptive mindset, albeit reluctantly in some aspects. When we interacted at the Lanka Times he wrote his stories on an old typewriter and would await pickup every month from owner Michael Fernandez or his son James, for publication. It was the Fernandez family that gave him free rein to launch a newspaper that reached great heights in Melbourne.
I tried coaxing him to learn electronic media communication, but to no avail initially, until he gleefully announced to me one day, that his daughter Michelle had gifted him with an Ipad and was coaching him on how to use it. He was off like a caged animal let loose, communicating with it in no time and in fact hit the high speed button including launching himself into social media with gusto.
His musical output was also limited despite a high quality delivery until in stepped Jude Gunawardena from London, who was a big fan of his musical journey. Jude soon assured Des of his ability to entwine his music with video clips to give it more impact giving Des’s collection’s the wow factor it generated.
We had a mutual respect for each other’s different styles of writing and in fact often complemented and encouraged each other about our efforts.
Des was a great man and an entertainer par excellence, who always had our utmost respect. He was called away by the God he so revered after a memorable journey that was indelible.
Desmond Kelly was undoubtedly an icon of Sri Lanka, his musical career and acting gaining him several accolades over many decades.
He was one of a few icons of his era that gave highly gifted Sri Lanka recognition worldwide, for their rich musical talent. The others alongside him that shone was Bill Forbes, Cliff Foenander, Arthur Speldewinde, Malcolm De Kauwe and the man who gave him meaning to the Sinhala songs he sang without knowledge of its meaning, Wally Bastiansz. 
In fact great entertainers after him spoke of their utmost respect for him and their inspiration to take up music such as the late and great Desmond De Silva and some others such as, Alston Koch, Conrad De Silva, Derrick Junkeer, Esric Jackson and his late wife Sandra, Kerrigan Labrooy, Andrea Marr and several others who joined him on stage with utmost respect. He often mixed his own musical commitments with managing bands, and providing opportunities for their own development after migrating to Australia in 1962.
His unusual talent found few parallels extending to journalism as Chief Editor of the Lanka Times newspaper in Melbourne until it ceased publication while doubling up with the very popular eLanka website in Sydney being bestowed the honour by its Managing director Neil Jayasekera as the ‘Star of eLanka’ in a similar capacity as its Editor. Much like us, he regarded and embraced Neil and his family as his extended family.
He did a stint on Radio and mixed with some of the best in the business, recalled Fairlo Wijesinghe who interacted with him closely.
He was forthright with his comments in his columns and did not shy away from letting his innermost thoughts be known to all without fear or favour. His pleasing style of writing made him popular with many, especially his anecdotes which was flavoured to deliver reader interest and mirth.
As a singer, he excelled in bands and later as a soloist, composing and producing new material that gained international acclaim.
His song ‘Dreamworld’ which he fondly reminisced was written for his girlfriend at the time, Maureen Hingert, rocketed him to fame worldwide in 1958 topping the charts in India and Sri Lanka. It was recorded under the Phillips label and was, and still is, played and sung by musicians and radio stations. Esric Jackson stands out as one that sings this song often in Melbourne keeping it alive with the unstinted admiration of its composer.
Des Kelly produced hundreds of Casettes, Videos, CD’s and DVDs and with help, using his clever musical talent to create backup tracks for music he composed, and others still to be converted to music which he always confided in me, he hoped young musicians would take advantage of.
His uncanny knack of interaction would always pack a dance floor when he was mobile. Spondolitis put paid to his outgoing activity and he was home bound over the past eight years or so.
But his mental capacity was unaffected, helping him to continue recording music at home and writing countless stories, many based on his exploits through his life journey from childhood.
He has produced numerous songs in both English and Sinhalese the latter in which his versions were second to none despite being a Burgher. His road safety song “Its you” was a telling composition that got plenty of airplay but unfortunately was not sustained despite its telling message to drivers on the road.
He would often relate how he ran away from home at a very young age and joined a circus in Sri Lanka. Music was his next pursuit joining famour promoter Donovan Andree, until he joined the Sri Lanka Navy becoming the entertainer in the force and giving them another outlet from their regular training.
There’s nothing in music and interaction he has not touched on in a life spanning 86 years.
Outside of his busy commitments he was a proud father to his children, Michael, Douglas, Michelle and Warren.
He lived a lonely life after his wife Cynthia was deceased, but didn’t shy away from relating stories of his proud conquests of the fairer sex during his younger days. He recalled them with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
It is with a heavy heart we bid goodbye to a wonderful man we Iooked upto as a friend and father figure, and whose determination and versatility, I was in awe of.
The world has lost another incredibly talented man who has made a tremendous impact on society with his wisdom and knowledge.
May his wonderful soul rest in God’s loving care.
