Discover the state of your soul's weather

Through club dancing at Radella
 

by Aditha Dissanayake

Here's a relic of the British that is certainly not rusting. Established in 1836, the Radella Club is, unarguably, one of the finest planters' clubs in the Nuwara Eliya district. Having bravely battled with the ravages of time and still holding fast to a set of hallowed traditions, the club will celebrate its 150th Anniversary on December 16 with a dinner dance at the newly renovated club premises.

With a branch of the Kotmale Oya picturesquely gurgling on one side and the Radella mountains standing guard on the other, though officially called the Dimbula Athletic and Cricket Club, the building which resembles an old English country house, secluded and serene, along the Nuwara Eliya - Hatton road, is simply called the "Radella Club" in day-to-day jargon because it is situated on the Radella Estate. Inside, the ambience is unmistakably colonial - right from the courteous caretakers, to the names of the lists of past members glaring down from the panelled walls, some of whom had served in both world wars.

On quiet weekday afternoons amidst the rustle of the bamboo leaves and the murmur of clear spring water, one can almost hear the sound of horses, on the racing course. These sounds imagined from the past date back to the times of yore when the Radella Race Club used to function with "proper horses" purchased from England, with great success. However in 1936 with only two members remaining the Race Club had closed its affairs and handed over the balance cash, amounting to Rs. 600 to the Radella Club for improving the Cricket grounds. Legend has it that the Club was loaned to the R.A.F during the war and that the Liquor Ration Committee which met on 11th February, 1945 at 6.30 p.m. recommended the following; that they are not in favour of any members being entitled to more than 3 fulls per day, that in future a member may on his first visit to the club on any one week call for 6 splits or 3 fulls and on any subsequent visit during that week he will be entitled to 4 splits only, always provided that the member in question does not reside within less than five miles from the Club.

The hub of social life for the local planters ever since its inception, old British traditions and customs are still scrupulously followed here. Every other Wednesday is Supper Day, when members from Lindula, Thalawakelle, Kotagala and Nanuoya take turns to give dinner.

"But times are hard and membership is dwindling from year to year" says Senaka Alawaththegama, Secretary of DACC. "The cost of up-keeping the club is high, yet for the sake of sports and the planting community DACC must continue".

In spite of the hardships the Club, has been given a new face-lift recently and the first event to be held in the new hall will be the 150th Anniversary Celebrations featuring Kings, Mariecelle and Summerset with Faizal Bonzo as compere. According to a joke popular among the planters, there are three things which one can look endlessly at; a starry sky, a log fire and a dancing woman. Chances are on the night of the 16th, you might be able to see all three. Be it a combination of different dance styles; house, trance, funk, 2-step, go-go etc. you are bound to enjoy the important peculiarity of all club dances on this night i.e you can dance them with or without a partner, or even with a group. Doing so, you are bound to discover the state of the weather of your soul - which is what dancing is all about.

The end? No. Hard to let go without asking the most intriguing question of all. Are there any resident spooks who benignly stalk the corridors of the club at night?". "No" laughs Joshep the eighty-something Caretaker. "I'm the only ghost around". Bump into him with his toothless grin on a moon-less night...you will end up thinking he could be right.

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