John Rockwood

Lieutenant Colonel Dr John Rajathurai Rockwood, VD (29 October 1881 – 2 December 1935) was the leading administrator and patron of cricket in Ceylon from 1914 to 1935. He helped put the nation's cricket administration in the hands of the Ceylonese, and served as president of the Ceylon Cricket Association from its formation in 1922 until 1933. A doctor, he was also a commanding officer of the Ceylon Medical Corps. Early life and medical career A Tamil, Rockwood was one of four sons and four daughters of Dr W. G. Rockwood, who represented the Tamils in the Legislative Council of Ceylon. John Rockwood was educated at Royal College, Colombo. He gained his medical qualifications at Ceylon Medical College and took further medical studies in Edinburgh and Glasgow. He became a lecturer at Ceylon Medical College. Joining the Ceylon Medical Corps, Rockwood went on to serve as its commanding officer from 1927 to 1931 and was awarded the Volunteer Officers' Decoration. Cricket administration While still in his teens Rockwood was one of the founders of the Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club in Colombo, and was its first honorary secretary and one of its opening bowlers. He captained Tamil Union in 1908. After a few years with Tamil Union he moved to the Nondescripts Cricket Club, where he and W. G. McCarthy, the father of the Ceylon cricketer Pat McCarthy, developed the club's grounds and buildings in 1916.