HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1977-11-24, Page 34
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Four years ago Jim MacLaren's grandson Craig, 12, made a "happyretirement"
sign for his grandfather. However it wasn't until this year that Jim, 69, finally
finished his career as a truck driver. (News -Record photo)
Tuckers mith fire report...
continued from page 1
Reeve Ervin Sillery said all parts of
the township should be treated the same,
"We don't want to look at one place more
than another." He told the Vanastra
residents if they wanted improvement,
to prepare a plan and submit it to council
in writing and it would be considered.
"It's up to you people to get involved,"
Sillery said.
Ben Bridges, spoke of his frustrations
in getting fire protection services at
Vanastra. One of the problems discussed
was insurance for the men. It was
recounted that at one fire at Vanastra no
one would do anything before the
C1.INTON N!h:WS-RI' CORD, THURSDAY4, NOVEMBER 24, 1977—PAGE 3
People in profile: Jim keeps 072 truckin'
by Shelley McPhee
Four years ago, the family and friends
of Jim MacLaren gathered together to
celebrate his retirement from Guenther -
Tuckey Laidlaw where he had been
employed as a truck driver for the past
15 years.
Jim was prepared for his retirement,
but for some reason he never did give up
his job, that is until this week when he
turned 69 years old._
"They never told me to go and the pay
cheques kept coming in," laughed Jim,
"I felt pretty good so they just kept nye
on."
However now- Jim must adapt a new
lifestyle, new hobbies and activities to
keep him busy in his retirement. It will
be a complete change for him, since the
only other life he has known has been
driving a truck for the past 46 years.
"Now I go uptown and roam around
and go to the coffee shop. My wife's also
got 1,000 things for me to do. Everyone
told me that I'd do half the housework,
that's why I didn't retire sooner," he
remarked.
Actually Jim isn't complaining about
his retirement and noted thv.t it is nice to
sit inside and watch the snow falling
without having to go out in it.
He and his wife Dorothy will now have
more time for trips, they plan to go to
Florida this year and Jim is an active
member and past president of the
Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite in
London.
"I never had much time for hobbies, I
used to work long hours," Jim ex-
plained. '
fireman arrived even though fire chief
Stewart Broadfoot had asked for help.
Owens and Broadfoot both said that as
soon as Broadfoot asked men to work on
a fire, they are immediately under the
workmen's compensation.
Councillor Falconer said
"They have to get organized
here. When people here
.couldn't get out of bed to help
with a fire. You have to work
to be a firefighter. If they get
the ball rolling, I am willing
to support them if council is
()n page 12
One so-called hobb that Jim may
claim is collecting safety awards. He has
collected 15 medals over the past 15
years and through his career in
trucking, he has never been involved in
an accident. He has been the victim of a
few accidents, but he has never hit
anyone, despite the fact that his trucking
-career got off to a slightly shakey start.
Jim took on his first job as a truck
driver in 1929 with Ernie Epps Transport
in Varna, with only one catch, he didn't
know how to drive.
Not knowing how to drive was just a
small hurdle for Jim to jump and he just
stepped into the truck and "let her go."
"It ,just came naturally, from wat-
ching everyone else I guess," shrugged
Jim,
He worked. with Epps until Hanover
Transport bought them out and he
worked with that company for 20 years
as the branch manager in Clinton until
they sold to Argosy. He stayed on with
Argosy until they closed down and then
went to work with Guenther -Tuckey
Laidlaw in Exeter.
"When he was on the road I said I'd be
glad when he was home, but now I don't
know what to do with him," joked Jim's
wife Dorothy.
Although Jim m'ay have given up
trucking and maybe driving, he prefers
to fly, he hasn't given up his trips to the
coffee shop.
"That's where you get all the news,"
he claimed.
Trucking was always more than
driving to Jim. For him it was a way to
meet people, see the scenery, which Jim
Former Stanley Twp. cwp. coutile
rk' 50th anniTversar
ma Y
By Wilma Oke
Mr. and Mrs. Garnet McClinchey of 62
Jarvis Street, Seaforth, celebrated their
50th wedding anniversary Saturday at
the Seaforth Community Centre with a
family dinner. A large crowd of family
and friends filled the hall for the dance
which followed.
The couple was married on November
19, 1927 at the United Church manse in
Bayfield. She was the former Agnes
Adams, a daughter cf the late Robert
and Mabel (McClure) 'Adams of
McKillop Township, He was a son of the
late James and Sarah (Shoemaker)
McClinchey of Zurich.
Mr. and Mrs. McClinchey farmed in
Stanley Township until moving to
Seaforth in 1937. Mr. McClinchey was a
cabinet maker until retiring in 1969. Mrs.
McClinchey has been in the restaurant "
business until retiring about the same
time.
The couple has been enjoying some•,
travelling since retiring -a trip to Ger-
many, and Bermuda and across Canada.
They have six sons, Keith of Seaforth;
Beverley of Bayfield; Jack of Calgary;
William of Trenton; Grant of Hensall
and Donald of Cornwall. There are two
daughters, Dorothy, Mrs. Keith.
MacDonald of Edmonton and Maybelle,
Mrs. Ian .Crockwell of Bermuda. A
daughter Betty Scott died in February
this year.
There are 30 grandchildren and 12
great grandchildren.
Mr. and Mrs. .McClinchey were .the
recipients of many gifts, including a trip
to Bermuda next February from the
Scott family.
Among the many congratulatory
messages were those from .Govern'br
General Jules Leger; Prime Minister
Pierre Elliot Trudeau; Premier William
Davis; Robert McKinley, MP for Huron;
and Jack Riddell, MPP for Huron; and
federal opposition"leader, Joe Clark.
•
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"listen to the bull."
Jim should know what he is talking
about, as when he was working -steady,
he would average somewhere around
1,000 miles a week. However, most of his
driving was done locally and he dislikes
driving in the city.
According to Jim, "'l'he younger
generation drive too fast. They have too
much power under the hood."
He also thinks that seat belts are a
good idea, but he feels they aren't used
enough and thinks that the CR radio
system amongst truckers is useful.
"The C11 radio has been a lot of help to
truckers today, On those tiresome runs
along the highway they can talk to
someone," Jim noted.
Of cou)'se the trucks today are much
different than the ones that Jim first
drove. Now they have power steering
and power brakes and could be quieter
than the ones that Jim had to drive.
"I'm a little hard of hearing now from
all the rattle of those old trucks," he
explained.
However, that's a problem that Jim
won't have to worry about anymore. Nor
will he have to worry about battling
snowstorms, keeping his perfect driving
record or unloading his cargo by him-
self. Now his major concerns will be
washing the dishes, reading books and
planning trips and outings.
"Now I get to do all the thjngs I've
wanted to do," sighed Jim as he relaxed
back in -his armchair.
Former Stanley Township residents, Garnet and Agnes McClinchey of Seaforth,
celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last Saturday with a reception. The
couple were married in Bayfield. (photo by Wilma Oke)
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