Yarns and Anecdotes

A podcast based on a fascinating tale penned by Hugh Karunanayake, on the association between a prominent and pioneering English tea planter and his Tamil cook in Ceylon the 1880s, and the circumstances which led to the latter making a life for himself in the UK, after blazing a trail in western oriented cuisine in Ceylon. Now, 135 years later, Daniel Santiagoe is remembered for posterity as the first-ever author of a cookery book based on Ceylonese cookery. Titled “The Curry Cook’s Assistant”, it was first published in London in 1886.

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Listen to the story of Patrick Francis Hadow, fondly known as Frank. Did you know that in 1878, a 23-year-old Frank Hadow, on leave from his plantation in Ceylon, competed in the 2^nd Wimbledon Championship and secured the singles title by defeating Spencer Gore in the Challenge Round? Hadow is also credited with the invention of the ‘Lob’, a potent weapon then - as no one had yet learned the overhead smash. Listen to this podcast, adapted from the article titled ‘The Wimbledon Championship & the Plantation Connection’, written by Anura Gunasekera.

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Tale of the ill-fated robbery by the feared underworld figure of the day, “Laathara Baas” and his gang, which resulted in the death of Bruce Whitehouse, Superintendent of Madampe Group, Rakwana in the Ratnapura district.

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The story of the murder of George Pope, the tough and strict disciplinarian Superintendent of Stellenberg Group, Uda Pussellawa. 

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A gunshot, a murder, and a little dog. A few weeks before Christmas in the year 1880, there was a gunshot at half past 7pm and a Liverpool gentleman was found murdered on Mousa Estate – caused by a series of events which involved his little dog, Lugs.

Follow us for more Yarns and Anecdotes from The History of Ceylon Tea by Dilmah.

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