The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-08-19, Page 26Sunday afternoon was a pony the Leamington area.
pulling contest by a group from The ever popular Molly packed throughout the weekend.
TRANSIT SYSTEM — Making up the Lucan transit system in Sunday's Fair
Jean Marie Stephenson, Darlene and Jim Paton and Scott Gibbs.
parade were Cheryl Cobleigh,
T-A photo
MeGuires kept the Lions Den
They're Here Now . New
Fall Fashion Frames
Remember . . . We Can.
Arrange for Your
Eye
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Carpenter Optical Shoppe
405 Main St. 235-051 1 , Exeter
Lucan
and district news
Page 26 Times-Advocate, August 19, 1976
Fair attracts record crowd despite weather
Despite adverse weather
conditions throughout part of the
weekend the seventh annual
Lucan Fair drew the largest
crowd ever.
Publicity chairman Clare
Stanley told the T-A Monday
evening, "Attendance was just
slightly over 15,000 for the three
days. This is an increase of four
percent from last year."
Stanley went on to explain that
much higher operating expenses
this year would keep the net
profit well below the $20,000 of
1975. He added, "Until all the bills
are paid I wouldn't dare take a
shot at estimating our profits,"
Heavy rains Friday night
turned the fairgrounds into a
quagmire but by Saturday noon
workmen with a lot of sawdust
had most of the grounds ready for
action.
The only show actually can-
celled because of rain was the
Saturday afternoon appearance
of western singing stars Jan
Howard and David Houston. The
two Saturday night performances
and two on Sunday were held as
scheduled.
Clare Stanley said Friday
night's attendance was higher
than a year ago and the ap-
pearance of the "Wednesday"
was probably responsible.
During Saturday's official
opening former Ontario
Agriculture Minister Bill Stewart
criticized the provincial
government for closing arenas
throughout the province and
particularly in Lucan.
Stewart commented, "This will
be the last time the fair is held
next to and inside the old arena
and, for the life of me, I can't see
why the arena has been con-
demned as unsafe."
He added, "I can't see anything
unsafe about it, but then I'm not
an engineer or a civil servant.
Huron-Middlesex MPP Jack
Riddell in bringing greetings
suggested that all in Lucan and
area should he "liberal" with
their contributions to the arena
fund.
In reply, Bill Stewart said he
wasn't pleased with Riddell's
choice of words and suggested
'generous' would be more
suitable.
The fair was officially opened
by Middlesex warden Don
Nisbett. Also participating were
Lucan reeve Ivan Hearn, MP Bob
McKinley, councillor Jim Shipley
of Biddulph, Lions president
Gary Manders, president Jim
Simpson and Sid Daley of the
Lucan Legion and chairman
Gary McFalls and co-chairman
Paul Dykeman,
Introduced as special guests
were two visiting young ladies
from Lucan, Ireland, They were
Maura Tansey and Iseult
Chleirigh.
The top prizes in a Saturday
afternoon western and english
horse show were Eric Vanneste,
Lucan; Brian Will, Chatham;
Robin Spearman, Dorchester and
Brent McMullen, Komoka.
Winners in the very successful
talent show Saturday afternoon
were Lori Noyes; Glenn and
Angela Hardy; April Emery,
Stephanie Hayter and Brenda
King; Leanne Hudson.
The master of ceremonies was
Big Al from Kitchener television
and Lion Don Leitch was in
charge of the program. He was
assisted by Bob Stutt.
Sunday's parade was described
by Stanley as, "the best and
longest parade we have ever had.
The more than 200 Shriners
taking part certainly added to
it."
The large crowd was amused
by the Shriners in their odd
costumes on floats, scooters,
motorcycles, miniature jeeps and
antique cars.
The wettest participant in the
parade was John Storey of Lucan
who rode the route in a bath tub.
Chuck Holmes was marshal of
the parade.
The Lucan volunteer fire
brigade took care of parking on
the west and south sides of the
arena and handled more than
1,200 vehicles.
Another attraction drawing a
large number of spectators
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ANTISEPTIC IRISH VISITORS — One of the highlights of Saturday's official opening of the Lucan Fair was the
appearance of two girls from Lucan, Ireland. Above, Reeve Ivan Hearn, Lions president Gary Manders,
Maura Tansey and Iseult Chleirigh of Ireland and Lucan Legion rep Sid Daley and president Jim Simpson.
Lucan visitors in Lucan
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Courtey Chas. Abel
More than 15,000 attended the
Lucan Fair over the weekend but
for two persons travelling a long
distance, it was a special thrill.
Lucan was the first Canadian
stop on a North American tour by
two Irish girls and you guessed it,
they hail from Lucan, Ireland.
Maura Tansey and Iseult
A little bit of heaven fell from
out of the sky one day and 'it
landed right here in Lucan, in
time for the Lions fair.
Sure and ain't it the truth -
those two lovely colleens from
Ireland, Maura Tansey and Iseult
Chleirigh, with their ready smile
and Irish wit won the hearts of all
those with whom they came in
contact. They certainly were
ideal ambassadors.
When leaving Ltican, Ontario
they requested I, through the
medium of this column, extend
their greatful thanks to all the
folk of Lucan and area who made
their stay such an enjoyable one.
Incidentally, I understand it is
their intention to return to our
fair village in the not too distant
future - they also advised, the folk
back home will not believe them
as they relate the 'simply mar-
velous and gorgeous' time they
experienced while with us.
Branch 540, Royal Canadian
Legion are pleased indeed to
have had the privilege to host
these two lovely gals and the
members of the Legion wish to
extend their thanks to all those
who contributed in any way to
Chleirigh are school teachers in
their native country and spent
four weeks on a bus tour of 30 U.S.
states before being greeted in
LondOn, Ontario by Sid Daley of
Lucan Legion branch 540.
The girls were fulfilling an
invitation sent out five years ago
for Lucan, Ireland townspeople to
1
make their stay with us so
delightful,
Don't forget Saturday night
will be Branch 540's annual corn
roast following which the Peoples
Choice will be on hand to en-
tertain you.
Comrade Harvey Percy,
Provincial Service Officer, will
be at the Lucan Legion on August
24 between the hours of 12 noon
and 1 :00 p.m. Any person wishing
advice with regard to veterans'
benefits are requested to call
either Sid Daley at 227-4216 or
either of our stewards at 227-4751
and an appointment will be set up
for you,
Comrade Edie Worthington's
name was drawn as winner of the
pot o' gold, hut, not being
registered allows the pot to grow
for at least another week.
Bill Cornish of Lucan was the
winner of this months $100.00
cheque draw,
A that's 30 for this week -
Remember (after meeting our
two lovely guests I think it is safe
to say) There are only two types
of people in the world - those who
are Irish and those who wish they
were.
attend Lucan's Centennial
celebrations.
Miss Tansey said her mother is
the postmistress in. Lucan,
Ireland and received the original
invitation.
She commented, "Some people
wanted to come at that time, but
because of high costs and other
factors plans were cancelled, but
I made up my mind I would get
here sometime and here I am."
Lucan in Ireland is located
about eight miles from Dublin
and the population has increased
quickly in recent years to near
15,000.
On her hometown, Maura
Tansey said, "It's getting too
large. We don't have the same
ability you do to identify and
communicate with people."
Her travelling partner Iseult
Chleirigh said, "Lucan residents
are so warm and friendly and
everybody has a moment to stop
and talk. There is a wonderful
community spirit. We have been'
accepted as part of the whole
scene."
Asked for their first impression
of Canada, they replied in unison,
"It's so refreshing."
Both girls have indicated a
sincere desire to return to Lucan
during the winter to see snow.
During Sunday's parade the
girls rode in a convertible with
Lucan reeve Ivan Hearn.
They have been staying at the
horfie of Sid and Hilda Daley,
They visited Stratford and
Storybook Gardens in London,
Monday before getting back on
the bus for Ottawa, Montreal and
other eastern points.
They return to Ireland by
August 2 to get back to the job of
teaching. As one commented,
"We're not as lucky as Canadians
to get a Labour Thy holiday. We
go back to school a week earlier."
DALEY'S WEEKLY COMMENTS
Bit of heaven
By SID DALEY
RADCLIFFE DRUGS
180 MAIN ST., LUCAN TELEPHONE 227-4902 or 227-4792
Open Mon. - Fri. 9 9 Sat. 9 - 6