Mr. W. N. S. Samuel

W.N.S Samuel emeritus Principal of Hartley College, (1975-1985) has reached the noble feet of God having served his family, his Alma mater and his community magnificently and magnanimously.

The poignant event occurred on the 26th June 1992 in his mid sixties at Veelore (South India) after a period of illness following two major surgical operations.

The hearts and minds that respected and loved him for the several beatific facets of his personality are a large number. They all lament his departure with intense agony as an untimely and outrageous sling of fate.

However, the few of us who had closer contacts with his Christian virtues world reiterate that he has been embraced into the ranks of the God.

Mr. Samuel was never a fatalist. Always godly in his words and deeds. He crowned every minute of his life with its sixty seconds worth of prayerful service.

Lured into the Teaching profession, Church and Community work by his noble mother in 1948 and ably assisted by his charming wife till her death in 1973 he rendered signal and significant service in all these spheres.

He displayed his excellent calibre and capacity as a teacher, teacher-counselor, Editor of the college Miscellany, Deputy Principal, member of the Northern Province Principals' Association, Deputy President of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka and Secretary of the Lion's Club, Point Pedro.

It is his service as a principal that keeps us specially endeared to him. A distinguished Hartleyite himself he joined the Staff in 1953 and became the rightful Principal in 1975.

During this decade, Hartley College already standing on the pinnacle of global fame had another fascinating dimension added to it.

He maintained and promoted the standard nurtured and nourished by his illustrious predecessors so well that in the eyes of his contemporaries and counterparts "WNS was an ardent keeper of Hartley's conscience."

During his retirement he continued his community service as a Director of the Institute of Religion and society at Maruthamamadam and as member of the Board of Directors of Jaffna College, Vaddukkoddai, He left for south India in 1988 in the interest of his last son's education.

The Past Pupils' Association he re-vitalized in Colombo, the London Past Pupils' Association he inaugurated, the nine roomed two storyed Laboratory that came up during his stewardship, the inspiring college song he got composed and his four brilliants sons-all of them exemplary Hartleyites-will keep his memory alluringly indelible in the annals of our college.

In keeping with his Last wish may be all sing God's glory.