Douglas Edmund
Kelly
Male
England
1877-00-00
Truro, Cornwall, England
1967-01-11
Killarney, Bogawantalawa, Sri Lanka
Douglas Kelly was the husband of fellow lawn tennis player Marion Elinor Kelly (née Farr; 1874-1958). Marion Kelly notably won the women’s singles event at the Ceylon Championships in 1907. Several of Douglas Kelly’s ancestors were tea planters in Ceylon. Douglas and Marion Kelly lived for many years on the Killarney Estate in the town of Bogawantalawa in Ceylon’s central province. A friend of theirs, Moira Colin-Thorne, wrote an account of a visit she made to Killarney in 1954. Part of this account is reproduced below.
From: The Kellys of Killarney
https://www.historyofceylontea.com/ceylon-publications/feature-articles/the-kellys-of-killarney-by-moira-colin-thome.html
Ushered into our room, our breath was taken away at the sight of hundreds of exotic flowers in numerous bowls and vases that dotted the expansive confines of the room. These were all handpicked from the gardens at Killarney, which as we were to discover during the course of our stay, with little or no modification, Killarney could well have been termed a genuine botanical garden. Hundreds of various types of anthuriums grew around the house and encompassed the bowling green as well. The bowling green, which was to the right of the house, could also be entered through the dining room.
The main part of the house, that is the lounge “den” and dining areas were of panelled wood; the floors covered with beautiful old carpets, and comfortable upholstered chesterfield type chairs; softly shaded lamps dotted the occasional tables, giving off the impression of extreme comfort and cosiness, especially in the evenings when the curtains were drawn to keep out the freshness of the nights.
In the dining room, one wall was crammed full of sterling silver, positioned on shelves that almost reached the ceiling – truly a splendid and rare sight. The Kellys were by now in their twilight years and not so active and spent many hours sitting on the patio. However, each morning, Douglas, who adored his wife, would pick a perfect flower from the garden and present it to her with a kiss.
From the patio the land sloped ahead to form a deer park at the end of the garden where there must have been at least fifty of these beautiful animals, most of them quite tame. The garden ended in a V-shape and at the apex, there was a quaint old gate, above which hung a web with a large spider holding a lamp. This lamp used to be lit each night, which emitted an effect of indescribable beauty and the sensation of being transported to another world.
Douglas’s father, who came out to Ceylon in the 1800s, was a pioneer planter. He, like all pioneers, had a hard life, to begin with. They had to trek for miles in all types of weather and had none of the comforts they were accustomed to, but it was worthwhile in the end, especially to the following generations!
Douglas had a very piquant sense of humour; he used to terrify his guests by placing a very real looking enormous black snake at strategic points, usually along the favourite walk paths and he used to laugh his head off at hearing their shrieks of terror! Douglas also had a penchant for old clocks; he had about fifteen of different makes, shapes and sizes and he used to lovingly wind them each night before retiring for the night. It was a kind of ritual.
William, the cook (and could he cook!), used to turn out the most delectable teatime scones and tomato soup; they were the best ever and I am lucky to have the recipes for both to this day. Douglas loved to play bowls and was very good at it too, from all accounts. By this time, however, his only opponent was Deen [his major domo], who was no mean player himself. But, if Deen won, Douglas would end up in a very bad mood!
Margaret was a tall willowy pretty lady, with a soft voice and gentle manner, and I still retain a vivid memory of her waving us goodbye – it was the last time I saw her. Douglas and Margaret were such splendid hosts, and true friends, who enriched our lives in our short but thoroughly unforgettable friendship. Margaret passed away in 1958 and Douglas in 1965. Both were buried at the St Mary’s Church cemetery in their beloved Bogawantalawa region.
1898 - 1914
6
21
14
1912 - Ceylon Championships (Amateur)
1908 - Ceylon Championships (Amateur)
1907 - Ceylon Championships (Amateur)
1904 - Ceylon Championships (Amateur)
1900 - Ceylon Championships (Amateur)
1898 - Ceylon Championships (Amateur)
Round 1
Walter Charles Howard Tripp 1 *
Douglas Edmund Kelly
7-5
6-2
Challenge Round
Arthur Murray Cooper 1 *
Douglas Edmund Kelly
3-6
10-8
6-2
6-3
Semifinals
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
Walter Charles Howard Tripp
6-2
6-2
Final
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
Gordon Burton Davis Windus
6-4
4-6
6-2
Challenge Round
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
Steuart Pickering Hayley
6-3
5-7
6-3
4-6
6-4
Semifinals
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
Edgar Robert Ernest Geddes
6-2
6-2
Final
Gordon Burton Davis Windus 1 *
Douglas Edmund Kelly
11-13
6-2
8-6
Challenge Round
Steuart Pickering Hayley 1 *
Douglas Edmund Kelly
6-1
6-2
1-6
1-6
8-6
Challenge Round
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
Arthur Murray Cooper
6-2
4-6
6-1
6-2
Semifinals
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
W.E. Mitchell
6-1
6-3
Final
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
H.E. Walker
6-3
6-4
Challenge Round
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
Steuart Pickering Hayley
6-2
8-6
2-6
7-5
Challenge Round
Steuart Pickering Hayley 1 *
Douglas Edmund Kelly
w.o.
Semifinals
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
W.E. Mitchell
6-4
6-1
Final
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
G.H. Bennett
8-6
6-2
6-2
Challenge Round
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
Eustace Alfred Stephens
w.o.
Challenge Round
Bertie Cecil Norton Knight 1 *
Douglas Edmund Kelly
4-6
6-3
6-1
3-6
6-4
Final
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
H.E. Walker
4-6
6-4
6-4
2-6
6-4
Challenge Round
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
Eustace Alfred Stephens
2-6
6-2
6-2
6-3
Challenge Round
Eustace Alfred Stephens 1 *
Douglas Edmund Kelly
6-8
6-1
8-6
6-1
Challenge Round
Douglas Edmund Kelly 1 *
Edgar Henry Avarne Vanderspar
6-4
7-5
7-5