Royal College OBA – Canada – Ontario
About us
The Royal College old boys’ Association of Ontario-Canada, is the Canadian branch of the Alumni Association of Royal College. It is known as ROCOBA (pronounced rock-o-ba) for short.
Since its establishment in 1991, we have formed a network of Royal College Alumni, who help in the organization and success of our many sports and social events.
True to our College Anthem we continue to “learn of books and learn of men” in the true spirit of our alma mater.
You can find out more about the history of our Association in the history section of this web-site. Please contact us if you need more information.
College Song
School of our fathers
Thy spirit first to life awoke
In eighteen hundred and thirty five
Beneath the sway of Marsh and Boake
Thenceforth did lanka’s learning thrive
Refrain
School where our fathers learnt the way before us
Learnt of books and learnt of men, through we will do the same
True to our watchword “Disce Aut Discade”
We will learn of of books and men, and learn to play the game
Within thy shade our fathers trod
The path that leads to man’s estate;
They have repaid the debt they owed;
They kept thy fame inviolate.
Refrain
And we their loyal sons now bear
The torch, with hearts as sound as oak;
Our lusty throats now raise a cheer
For Hartely, Harward, Marsh and Boake.
History of College song
Royal College the oldest public school in Sri Lanka lagged behind other Colleges without a college song until Principal H.L.Reed composed and set to music the SCHOOL OF OUR FATHERS in the Third term of 1927. The music was later revised by S. Schmid.
In the following year when Royal College won the MEADEN SHIELD in the schools singing compition for the 8th year in succession SCHOOL OF OUR FATHERS presented at the competition was a ‘hit tune’. Much credit for the magnificent performance of the college choir goes to Mrs. H.L. Reed who was assisted by R.C. Edwards. The college song made its public debut on 13th July 1928.
A college song provides inspiration, a fervour and attachment to one’s old college. To the old boys its nostalgia, of the years that were, the happy carefree boyhood days. To the young ‘Uns’ who now bear the torch the college song is something for every conceivable occasion. They sing themselves hoarse. They sing with pride-their own “anthem”. One has to witness them rendering the college song with gusto-there’s happiness written on their faces.
In 1968, a shorter version of the college song in Sinhala was again composed on the instructions of the Principal by the same combination which composed the first song Messrs W.A. Wickramasena and S.J.F. Dissanayake.
Committee 2016/17
Dilkaran Rajendra – President
Charitha Senaviratne – V.P.
Ravi Rajan – Secretary
Kanishka Bastiampillai – Treasurer
Priyankara Vittanachchi – Assistant Treasurer
Anil Ekanayake – Social Secretary
Thayalan Paramalingam – Membership Services & IT
Samy Ramachandran – Membership Services & IT
Sam Samarajeeva (Past President) – Public Relations
Web:–http://rocoba.ca/
