Methodist College

A Chance Meeting in a Transit Lounge …… lead to the Birth of MCPPCA(UK) formerly MCOGA(UK) and MCPPA(UK)

One September afternoon in 1978, two past pupils of Methodist College, Colombo Ranjini Perera and Shanthi Somasundrum met by chance in the Transit lounge in Moscow airport. It was about 25 years since they had seen each other. Both lived in London. That chance meeting and the arrival in London of another past pupil Ithalie Gunawardene, who was posted to the Sri Lankan High Commission in London, led to the formation of the Association.

Itahlie arrived with a list of Past Pupils living in the UK and together with contacts that Ranjini and Shanti had, they had the names of about 125 people.

They decided to invite them all to a reunion to which they also invited Miss Grace Robins a former Princpal of the school who lived in Hull. About 90 Past Pupils and former teachers met at Notting Hill Methodist Church. It was a great occasion of renewing friendships and catching up on news. All present agreed to do it again and so was born the idea of an Old Girls Association in the UK .

A year later the vision became a reality with the formation of the Methodist College Old Girls Association (UK). It is now in its 43rd year.

In addition to renewing and fostering friendships of Old Girls in the UK the Association maintains links with the Parent School. Through the years funds have been raised for a variety of projects and needs. In addition a Charity, the MC Education Trust was set up to help needy students and staff with financial assistance to achieve their educational goals. The Association supports the Special Needs Education programme and has been funding a Speech Therapist for many years.

Fund raising events over the years have included Dinner Dances, Lunches, Dinners, Bazaars, stalls at the annual Cricket Festival organised by Old Boys Associations of Sri Lankan schools and musical concerts etc.

The Association achieved charitable status in 2017 and its name was changed to Methodist College Past Pupils Charitable Association (UK). The Education Trust was closed at the same time

The UK branch is the first formal overseas association of Methodist College alumni. Now there are branches in various parts of the world, including Canada and Australia with whom close ties are maintained.