Kingswood College Kandy

was called “The Boys High School”. It was started as an English private school and as a fee levying school it’s charged were somewhat higher than those charged elsewhere. The school hours were from 10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. Inventory first year Rugby Football was stated in the college. In 1893, the first debating class if the school was started. The first magazine of the school “Our boys” was launched in the same year. In 1894 the management of the school was handed over to the Methodist Mission due to the financial difficulties encountered by Blaze in running the school, especially since it didn’t quality for government aids as a private school. M.D Hanz joined the college as its first assistant teacher, due to lack of space, the adjoining house No.10 of the Pavilion street was appropriated by the management of the school in that year. The most successful price giving of the Kandy was held in that year after reciting a prologue which was something new to Kandy and it proved to be a grand and successful event. The first government exam was held in 1897 but the school was struggling because it lost its senior Master and two more teachers. It was under those circumstances that Mr. E.H Spencer joined the school in 21st September 1897. He was a good teacher and also as cadet officer, he proved to be a good disciplinarian. He was responsible for organizing the first annual sports meet as the 1st prefect of games of the college. During this period there has been a rapid growth of school and this made its necessary to shift the school to a lager premise in Brownirigg Street which was done about the end of 1897. This was accomplished at a cost of Rs. 10,000/-. The main hall of the school was opened in 27th June 1898. It was in 1898 that the Boys High School took the name of Kingswood College at the Suggestion of Mr. Prince who headed the school committee. In 1900, Mr. Blaze wrote the 1st comprehensive school text book in Sri Lanka. Mr. Spencer took the initiative in forming a union in1900, but it became a reality only in 30th September 1904. In 1906 Spencer left for India. After 5 years he came back in May 1911 and worked for a few months in the school. But Kingswood lost one of its great teachers unfortunately he passed away in 25th September of that year. M.S. Samarasinghe joined the school in the same year. He had such a good rapport with the students that he could readily recognize a gentleman of Kingswood when saw one. Our first trained lady teacher was Miss. A.C Blaze who was with us from 1916-1918. Her forte was Music and she did much to improve the singing of the school and the 25th anniversary was celebrated in the 4th of May 1916. In 1918, Volleyball was introduced to the school by Mr. G.O Mendis. In June 1922, the house system was adopted by Mr. Blaze. As the number of student continues to grow the need for more spacious environment became a matter of increasing urgency. Thus the management of the school started looking for a suitable site. The location ultimately selected was called “Solomon Gardens” and it was bought with a great of £ 4000/-. The plan of the school was drawn by Mr. A.M Sparr at cost of Rs. 200,000/-. The shift to the new site and the new buildings that came up were made possibly by a generous gift of money from Sir John Randles. In 31st December 1923, L.E Blaze’s official connection with Kingswood College came to an end. In 1925 physical expression of the school continued under Mr. Pearson with the opening of new buildings. In 1929, Mr. Gibbon took over as the principal of the school and has period of service lasted from 1929-1937. In 1935 photographic society began. IN 1937 Mr. D.A.J Utting joined the school as its 3rd principal. And he remained with Kingswood until 1942. 1942 is a landmark year in the Kingswood history because in that year Mr. P.H Nonis came to Kingswood College as its Sri Lankan principal. Free education was introduced during that time and the salaries of the teachers were paid by the government. Nonis’s tenure of officer was long one and it was exceeded only by that of Mr. Blaze, the founder of the Kingswood College. During his time Kingswood sports reached excellence, especially hokey reached international level during this period. Brilliant sportsmen such as F.A. White who was the younger brother of Dunchan White brought honor to the college. Athletics reached its peak during this time. In 1957 Mr. Nonis was succeeded by his deputy principal who served for little over. Kingswood College Kandy
Randles Hills
Peradeniya Road
Kandy, Centrel Province
Sri Lanka