This striking photo was proably snapped before Sir John Kotelawela led the UNP to Debacle in the 1956 General Elections. [on 23 November 1953 — as kindly pointed out by Sachi Sri Kantha…. see below]
Lord Soulbury is seated on the extreme left –so this snap has been taken before he left Ceylon. It would be useful if other “personalities’ could be identified. The lady looking pensive in her pensive middle postion betwen Kohn Kotelawela and Richard Nixon is Yvonne Gulam Hussein nee Tousaint — a prominent socialite in Colombo.
Eardley Lieversz has provided this ‘snippet’ of information and another snap. “Interestingly, she went through a Muslim wedding rite but received a Christian burial. I doubt whether she was a practicing Muslim. Even Onally looks very anglicised.”
El Patio Yveony, Bambalapitiya
The beautiful home and mansion,”El Patio Yveony”, owned and lived in by Onally Gulamhussein and his celebrity wife Yvonne Toussaint starts off the next block of land adjoining Station Road. Onally, nicknamed “Jutehessian” and his wife the socialite Yvonne Gulamhussian, nee Toussaint, was refered to as Mrs. Ooh La Jute Hessian.
Anniversary bash at the Patio
Yvonne, the fashion icon no more DN Thu July 15 2010
Yvonne Gulamhusein (nee Toussaint), a name reverberated in the local and international fashion circles, bid adieu to her life’s ramp Monday. Yvonne was in the lead in the fashion designing line and has made spectacular designs that have kept wearers want more. She has always been a sensation and news wherever she went.
In England she walked barefoot and made headlines. The sophisticated woman mixed with the biggest socialites in the country.
She began her career as a cabaret dancer and everything she wore was nothing compared to the ‘in’ style. It was a mix of everything. She met her husband Onally at her dancing classes and what she told her friends laughing was, “See what you did, I went for dancing classes and he asked me to dance and this is where I am today”. She will be remembered fondly by her husband, family, friends and fashion fans world around.
obit: GULAMHUSEIN – YVONNE – Precious wife of Onally Gulamhusein, loving daughter of the late Royston and Mavourneen Toussaint, passed away on 12th July, 2010. Remains will lie at 20, Bambalapitiya, (Galle Road), Colombo 04. Service will be held at The Cathedral of Christ the living Saviour, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, at 3.00 p.m. on 14th July 2010. Cremation will take place thereafter at 4.00 p.m. at Jawatte General Cemetery. DN Wed July 14 2010
The area facing the Galle Road which used to be the front yard of the villa has now been blocked, sold and built up into another mall where many lucrative and flourishing businesses have sprung up alongside including Perera & Sons bakers, Vijitha Yapa Book Store and several other new and old enterprises. Along this same row was located the famous Stadium that hosted many scintillating entertainment performances organized by the famous Donovan Andree during his hey days of the entertainment business.
YVONNE GULAMHUSSEIN nee TOUSSAINT: Information from the Sri Lankan Network in Australia:
Rex Olagesekeram in Sydney, 13 September 2021: “ Thanks Mike. Everyone knew Yvonne in her days as she featured very often in the media. She was a charming person.”
David Sansoni in Sydney, 13 September 2021: “All I can offer… Yvonne was the daughter of Reginal Royston Toussaint.
Yvonne’s parents….https://gw.geneanet.org/dmmason?lang=en&n=toussaint&oc=0&p=reginald+royston
Her uncle (brother of Royston) was Rev. Leslie Oswald Toussaint, of Christ Church, Dehiwala and of St. Francis of Assisi, Mt. Lavinia. …………https://gw.geneanet.org/dmmason?lang=en&pz=bastiaan&nz=minjoot&p=leslie+oswald&n=toussaint
Rev. L.O. Toussaint had a daughter, Monica, who married Mr. Woutersz – an old boy of St. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia.
Shall share any further intel that comes to hand. Good wishes.
Luther Uthayakumaran in Sydney, 13 September 2021:
See https://www.nixonfoundation.
I wonder why Donovan Andry is missing ? The person wearing glasses looks like CP De Silva ?
I provide the citation for Richard Nixon’s visit to Ceylon in Nov 1953.
He visited Ceylon on Nov. 27, 1953. The citation is as follows:
https://www.nixonfoundation.org/2009/06/vice-president-nixons-forgotten-trip-to-ceylon/
Many thanks. Nice to read these.