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WHO COMES?
The Folly has a colourful history.. Playing
host to many celebrities..Whose pictures together
with family members line the walls , amongst them
are Vivian Leigh , Peter Finch , Sir Laurence
Olivier , David Lean , William Holden , Gregory
Peck , Win Min Than, Sir Alec Guinness , Zandra
Rhodes, Paula Yates , Andrew Logan , Mahatma
Ghandi , Nehru , Indira Ghandi..
Kelly Jones of The ‘Stereophonics’ who was inspired
to write the single ‘Madam Helga’…
Many of our celebrity guests come ‘incognito’
…escaping the ‘gold fish bowl’ that hounds
them , and we respect this. the folly is their home
in Sri Lanka ,as s it is to so many others…
We can store your valises, have your clothes
cleaned, and aired for your arrival . You need just
your passport . A couple of our guests find this
facility very pleasing…
MOTHER Esme
De Silva...Artist...Designer of the original house
in the 30's...
Esme whilst visiting her father's friends Herr and
Frau Arnold Busch , one of the Kaisers last Court
painters and nephew of Wilhelm Bush in Berlin.
Esme was inspired to paint under Arnold Busch's
tutelage , and went on to join the Slade School of
Art in London much against her parents wishes. At
the age of 19 she 'donned' the 'robe' to receive her
first class Diploma in Fine Arts..from the
University of London ..Signed by the late Sir Henry
Tonks amongst others.Esme was summoned back and
married..to
FATHER.. His Excellency Edmond
Frederick Lorenz De Silva
“Dashing Ed mond Frederick . Lorenz De
Silva' who wore many hats.Politician , Member of
Parliament..Barrister..60's Ambassador to Paris
France ..and Switzerland ...writer and Chancellor of
the University of Peradeniya in Kandy.Helga’s
parents she says grounded her and ”My brother and I
were very lucky ". A far cry from today when
children blame all ills on parents…
GRANDFATHER.. The
Hon George Edmond De Silva
Frederick was the son of George De Silva , whose
statue was erected by the people of Kandy , in
grateful remembrance of their Elected Member of The
Legislative Council , State Council , Minister of
Power , Health and Fisheries in the First War
Cabinet....and was credited to helping secure
Independence for Ceylon...together with his son
Frederick and wife Agnes Nell De Silva..
GRANDMOTHER Agnes Nell
...
Credited for fighting for women's
rights...COURTESY of 'George De Silva' by Jane
Russell
Agnes together with her stunning looks was also
credited for fighting for women’s rights..'Casting
Pearls' by Malathi De Alwis ad Kumar i Jayawardene
gives an interesting insight into the movement of
Universal Suffrage...'Agne's Nell's grandfather came
to Ceylon from Nell Straits in South Africa. having
taken part in a dual which at the time had been
outlawed..' Courtesy of: 'Frederick Nell and his
Heirs'.
'Agne's Nell ..loyal wife of George De Silva..made
East and West truly meet...A true Sion of the Nell
family..Her illustrious uncles..famed Charles
Ambrose Lorenz [born in Matara on the 8th day of
July 1829..The famed towering genius Andreas
Nell..The antiquarian and philanthropist..Agnes'es
father Paul Nell the inventor of the double action
tea roller in 1900 which was manufactured in Belfast
..
AUNT
Marcia de Silva de Vigier...Authoress,Helped
with 'MARG' magazine,India.
Agnes'es eldest daughter Marcia De Silva De
Vigier [elder sister to Helga's father Fred]
married the Irish poet LT-Commander Robert
Nicholl-Cadell R.N , who was reported missing on
Active Service 1942..Marcia then went on to marry
the scientist Phillip de Vigier...and wrote under
her name...Her books include 'The Life and Times of
The Lord Buddha'.'.Christine de Pisa...Autobiography
of a Medieval Woman 1363-1430'..'This Moste High
Prince John of Gaunt' amongst others....
AUNT
Minnette de Siva ...Credited as being one of the
first Women Architects of the East...
Agnes'es younger daughter Minnette de
Silva [younger sister to Fred, Helga's father] was
"One of the first Woman Architects of the East" and
was awarded the 'Gold Medal' on the 15th February
1996..in recognition of her contribution to
architecture...
A pupil of Le Corbusier who was involved in
Chandigarh the new capital of the Punjab in
India..Pictures of Le Corbusier and Minnette ..hang
on the walls together with her and Picasso.. A
newspaper cutting in her memoirs 'Life and Work of
An Asian Woman Architect' reads "Minnette has become
an Associate of the Royal Institute of British
Architects,and is the first Eastern woman to do
so.."
Another clipping at the Folly shows Minnette being
awarded 'The officer ship of Arts and Letters' by
the French government...The cutting reads "as the
French Ambassadress puts it at an award
ceremony..."Her buildings sing..and belong to a rare
few who do so"...."The Life and Work of An Asian
Woman Architect" by Minnette .. makes
for interesting reading....
WHO
is HELGA de Silva Blow Perera?
"COURTESY of 'Living in Sri Lanka' James
Fennell and Turtle Bunbury Thames and Hudson. "Helga
the owner decorated the house in a whimsical
tropical theme.." "emphasizes whimsy of life,
reflecting Helga's preference to juxtapose and mix
the pedigrees"..."she grew up in a world of colonial
tea pots, Hollywood gossip and Marxist revolutions"
Kelly
Jones, lead singer of the 'Strereophonics' was
inspired to write the single ' Madam Helga' whilst
staying there.
Helga was almost born in the house..
WHO was Jonathan Oliver
Tollemache Blow?
Helga married Jonathan Oliver
Tollemache Blow at the High Alter of St Pauls
Cathedral London at the age of 17. ...Jonathan was
the younger son of Detmar Blow descendant of the
16th century composer John Blow...who saved his neck
by composing the Coronation Anthem for King William
and Queen Mary and who lies buried in Westminster
Cathedral London... and Winifred Tollemache of
Helmingham Hall in Suffolk England...
Jonathan and Helga had three children ...eldest son
Detmar Blow the art gallery owner 35 Heddon street
off Piccadilly London
W.1...E :Detmar @blowdelabarra..
WHO is Detmar Blow? Son married to Isabella Blow the
late famed talent spotter
WHO is Amaury Blow? Son.. the designer of
buildings...
WHO is Selina Blow? Daughter.. The fashion
designer.. 1 Ellis Street off Sloane St .. London S.W 1.. Selina has two children..Augustus and
Violet..
Helga's marriage of 15 and a half years ended with
Jonathan's tragic death .....
WHO is Desmond Perera?
Helga 's husband and owner of 'Agarsland'
..One of the oldest tea estates in old Ceylon
...which is open to 'Helga's Folly' guests... [H.F.Travels...
interesting history here] Desmond transformed old
methods to modern efficiency creating one of the
finest tea estates in Sri Lanka..."Every one should
have a Desmond in their lives"..says Helga..
WHO
is brother Sir Desmond de
Silva Q.C.?
Described in the press as 'the Scarlet Pimpernel of
the Bar' and is credited to many high profile
cases.. many of the newspaper clippings hang on
the walls… Knighted [Knight Batchelor] by Queen
Elizabeth 11...when he was appointed by Kofi Annan
to bring war criminals to justice"..Desmond married
Her Royal Highness Princess Katerina of Yugoslavia
in 1992....They have a daughter Victoria..
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