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Clinton News-Record, 1981-12-23, Page 3CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1981—PAGE 3 Christmasis extra special dayfor Bairds of Stanley as they mark 50th By Shelley McPhee At Christmas, Edith Baird always receives a dozen red roses from her husband Norman. This year, her present came early, and the number of flowers she received had quadrupled. There was good reason for the 50 red roses Edith received this year, for Christmas 1981 is a very special for the Bairds. They will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on December25th. Norman and Edith Baird of RR 1, Brucefield got a good start on their Christmas and anniversary celebrations on the evening of December 19th, when more than 100 friends, relatives and neigh- bors joined them at the White Carnation in Hohnesville for a dinner and dance. The evening was a great success and winded up with a good .oil -fashioned sing -song until the wee hours of the morning at the Baird's home on the Second concession of Stanley Township. "Our mile -and -a -quarter neighbors have lived beside each other for 50 years," Mrs. Baird noted, and many helped the well- known couple celebrate their special anniversary. Over 50 years ago, the former Edith Walff of Hensall and Norman Baird of Stanley met. Edith remembers that she was walking to her sister's house in Hensall one evening when two fellows stopped her. Norman, who Edith describes as "quiet and bashful," asked her out, and so started the beginnings of a great romance. "He was the first man I ever went out with and I married him a year later," • Nell -known Townshends celebrate diamond anniversary In a lifetime full of milestones and achievements, there was another major one during the weekend for Bishop W. A. Townshend and his wife Kathleen. The retired Anglican suffragan bishop of Huron, and his wife, both 83, and natives of Goderich Township achieved a milestone that will be reached by few in this era of frequent divorces, and broken homes—they celebrated their 60th wedding anniver- sary. The couple celebrated with a reception at Huron College 'on Saturday afternoon, followed by a family dinner party. And although snow fell heavily, more than 350 persons showed up at the Huron College reception. They included family, friends, clergymen, community leaders, municipal politicians, school trustees and education as well as federal and provincial government representatives. stuck in the middle "How can you make this the happiest Christmas of your life? Simply by trying to give yourself to others. Put something of yourself into everything you give. A gift, however small, speaks its own language. And when it tells of the love of the giver, it istruly blessed. - Norman Vincent Peale." These words really touched my heart this year. They say everything that I liked to have said about Christmas, and more. Giving, I believe, is the most im- portant and valued part of Christmas. It began thousands of years ago when God gave the earth Jesus, and in turn Jesus gave his life for us. Today there are many who still believe that the simple, uncomplicated act of giving is true meaning of Christmas. However millions of others have lost or abandoned it. They only see the crass commercialism, have been affected by personal tragedy and misfortune and believe that the world and the people who live in it are not worth very much. Perhaps they are the realists, but I'll choose to be a happy idealist instead. There are fewer things in the world that give me more pleasure and satisfaction than helping others and showing people that I love and care for them. Friendship, respect, trust and faith in Surrounded by well-wishers, the Townshends were able to reflect on a life together that produced 10 children—nine of whom are still living -27 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The surviving children,. John of London, William, of Waterloo, Betty (Mrs. Robert Foster) of London, Mary (Mrs. Howard Friesen) of London, Barbara (Mrs. Gor- don Ullerick) of London, James of Lon- don, Peggy (Mrs. Phillip Utting) of Woodstock, Robert of Owen Sound and Nancy Lougheed of Barrie, all were on hand to help their parents celebrate. The Townshends' eldest daughter, Eleanor (Mrs. Harold Monture) of London, died in 1966at43. Also joining in the celebration were 25 of the 27 grandchildren and five of the great- grandchildren. As well as sharing a busy busy home life with his wife, Townshend provided a lifetime of service to the community and to the church as a teacher, minister, public school trustee and as the suffragan bishop for the Anglican diocese of Huron. One of the most notable achievements was Townshend's 44 years as a public t, school trustee in London. During that period, he came to be identified as a reformer who led battles for equal pay for women teachers and for free textbooks. He retired as a trustee last year. Much of Townshend's service to the church was in the Huron diocese office in London. He became suffragan bishop of Huron in 1955 and retired in 1967. Throughout it all, Townshend's wife sup- ported and encouraged him and worked at raising a family of 10 children through sometimes difficult times. The Townshends were married on Dec. 21, 1921, at St. Barnabas Church in Toron- to, but they had known each other since childhood. Almost all of their married life has been spent in London. Edith noted. "And we've had a wonderful life. I wouldn't have anyone else." Following a quiet marriage ceremony at St. George's Anglican Church in Goderich, the wedding party returned to Edith's parents' home for a Christmas dinner and then off to Exeter for a house dance. People have often asked Edith why she picked December 25th as her wedding day, and she simply replies, "I've always liked Christmas." Three generations of the Baird family lived in the old farm house on the second of Stanley, and so Norman and Edith also made it their home. The newlyweds lived with Norman's parents and an • old aunt, but Edith remembers that everyone co- operated and got along without disagreements or quarrels. Norman farmed and Edith was kept busy raising four children, Audrey Stanley of Clinton, George Albert of Clinton Mrs. Thelma (Doug) Jones of Brucefield and Mrs. Sharon (Jim) Elliott of Goderich. The children were raised in a simple, un- complicated fashion and were very much loved and cared for by their parents. "It was tough," Edith remembered. "I boiled the diapers everyday. We had no Pampers or beautiful clothes," and ac- cording to Edith that was just the right way to raise a family, without all the luxuries, the modern conveniences and the frills that some mothers have today. "I worked in the fields and thought it was fun. I never got money, not like the farmers' wives today," she added. "Money is the root of all evil." The times have changed, and Edith feels that they're not all for the best. Marriages, don't last these days and Edith figures, "There's too much drink and socializing, and years ago you never mentioned sex." The Bairds worked hard on their farm, not to make money, but to make ends meet. It was an =ornamented way of life and they worked side-by-side to make a good home and comfortable future for themselves. "If the kids of today had to go back, it would kill them," she warned. Today the Bairds are still living in the old century home and Edith says she'll never move. Along with their children, they enjoy the company of nine grand- children and four great grandchildren. They also enjoy the friendship of good neighbors who all helped to give the Bairds a cherished anniversary and Christmas present this year. Hospital rates unchanged Although the ministry of health has given provincial hospitals free rein, the Clinton Public . Hospital's board of govenors will not likely be raising the rates of their private and semi -private rooms by a great amount. Beginning in April next year, the ministry of health will allow the province's hospitals to set their own rates for private and semi -private rooms. Currently they are government -regulated. Dennis Timbrell announced the change at the recent conference for the Ontario Hospital Association in Toronto, however Clinton Hospital adminstrator Doug Coventry said the change would have little effect on the local hospital, since there are only four private and six semi -private rooms there. Mr. Coventry explained, "Mr. Timbrell told us to run the hospital like a business and to make money at it." However, he noted that it is not entirely feasible or realistic to operate the Clinton Hospital this way, "If our wards are full. we're not going to leave a patient out because he doesn't have semi -private coverage." Kyles.... • from pastel • many of her 1,000 singles to radio stations in hopes of airplay, and she's now singing with a Goderich based band Chickoree. "It's hard after working all day. Sometimes you don't want to sing, but once I'm on the stage and I get the first number out, I want to sing all night," she enthused. And so, Sharyn Kyle and her son Tommy are going into 1982 on a high note. Sharyn says that they've both learned many things about themselves during the past year. Their desires, needs and wants have changed, but their outlook is positive and Sharyn has great hopes for her musical career. Perhaps by next Christmas, she'll be adding another single to her collection, maybe even an album. people has carried me through 99 per cent of the time and I still think, through all and all, that nice guys do finish first. Although we all get caught up in our own business and our own lives much of the time, Christmas gives us all a perfect opportunity to say how much we care and how much we appreciate other people in our lives. We can do this through wonderful, expensive gifts or just a smile. The price tag on your gift is not the most important part of giving, but the care, the thought and love you put into that selection is. A donation to a less fortunate family, a card to a favorite old aunt, a batch of homebaked cookies for a friend, or an evening of caroling the neighbors, all make wonderful Christfas gifts. It doesn't take much money, only a little imagination and love to make Christmas special. Christmas is still very special, it's still magic, and as long as people can give just a little bit of themselves to others, the ancient celebration of love, peace and good will toward men will will flourish. Thank you all for making 1981 a very special year for Gary and I. That is a gift that we will remember always. J • O 6 00 AO 6 co ret‘ so.(<� °` Cfteas�,0\<c to e 4\6ssA.40 o°°�\ic• x• CO ,00413 ,oe 1. t - FROM Orval Stanley and Betty Stanley & Kenneth McGuire asp December 25th, 1981 will be a very special day for Edith and Norman Baird of RR 1, Brucefield. The well-known couple will be celebrating their 50th anniversary on Christmas Day with family and friends. (Shelley McPhee photo) THE GODERICH VACUUM CENTRE 52 WEST ST. GODERICH 524-4112 in, your Holidays be adorned with the welcome sights and sounds of a better than ever Christmas! Our sirucre.grratitude to all., Holiday joy is in the air, and we greet all out fine patrons with sincere best wishes for a wonderful season. Many thanks for your loyalty and trust. STEPHEN L. BROWN - LORNE J. BROWN - FRED SHROPSHALL - SERC 21209.1N • CRAIG COX KEN JOHNSTON-DOUG CARIWRI(iHT-DOUGLAS WISE -KEPI MAERNEP-STEVE FAIJLDS 6110 Chevrolet olclsmobile -sem 1935- 4829321 cII!!LEANUS appy Holiday to one and all RAY & MARY GARON management acid stuff of Clinton Public Utilities Commission