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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-09-05, Page 111"7-fr‘ , FIRST SECTION ' • `-' 2.:• • —77-7, • Wingham, Ontario, Tuesday, Sept, 5,1989 ' ••••• „ „ • • • . . . • • • "•-•'..:•••••.'"-• " • -• • • • ••.- • • - ,••'• • • ....‘ ... • • .•••• • ----4=111101111=111111111111111.11111 FAREWELL TO SUMMER—Children all across the province head back to the books today, the first day of a new school year. For Cheryl Burchill of Wingham, right, it Means saying goodbye. to daughters Elizaileth, a Grade 5 pupil at Wingham Public School and Stephanie, who enters Kinder- garten. Winghani woman recalls first days of World War IT Editor's note: Fifty years ago, on Sept. 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Two days later Great Britain and France declared war on Germany and on Sept. 10, Canada followed suit, marking the beginning of the most horrifying and bloody war in the history of mankind. By the time of the war's end in 1945, more than 50 million people world wide had last their lives — two-thirds of them civilians. Like many local people, Mar- garet Wormworth of Wingham well remembers the events that led up to the famous conflict and its early, heady days. Working as a librarian in London, England, she was in her early twenties when war was declared. This is her story, as told to Margaret Stapleton of the Advance -Times. The street I was raised on was partly in London and partly in Kent. The house was a large Edwar- dian structure with six bedrooms upstairs and 18 -inch thick brick walls. My father worked at Covent Gar- den as a fruit broker. 1 had two sis- ters and a five-year-old brother, whom people used to mistake as my son, probably because we both hadTed hair. Storm clouds were gathering throughout Europe. Many of the British people regarded Adolf Hitler as a fanatic, so when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned home waving a piece of paper and promising "peace for our time" in 1938, nobody believed him. In fact, my family got leather muzzles for our Alsation (Gertnall shepherd) dogs long before the war started because our neighbors had Warned us that the dogs would bark their heads off when the bombs started falling. "Suddenly there was a god - awful crack, I put my hands over my head to shield myself and stood there for several moments in the dead silence, listening to the tinkling glass." The pattern of appeasement con- tinued for several months — Hitler would add some new territory to his conquests, promise that would be the end of it and everyone would turn a blind eye. The pattern continued until he invaded Poland and the threat could no longer be ignored. Like most residents of the United Kingdom, my family listened to the brief B13C broadcast on the Month% of Sept. 3, 1939, which saki, "We are now in a state of war With Ger- many." Immediately after the broadcast, the air-raid sirens blew even though it was not an actual hid. My mother never would have been caught uttering a swear wont; but after that broadcast she 'sintply said, "God damn them. That's the Huns for yott" The next day, everything was rationed and b1:4.r.101,gs were put into effect almost immediately. I had a new 12 -ampere light on my bicycle --r very expensive — and I rerneritberiaVing to tape black cardboard on it and thereflector. As a librarian,' My job was con- sidered necessary and so I -contin- ued working, Life ?Went: on •-1, not quite asusual — but withaurpriS-: inglylittleuiheaval. • Near the start of the war, my younger brother was sent live in the country,.to North Wales, with. relatives. The train stations in those days were filled wall-to-wall with children, all wearing nametags and destined for some spot in the coun- try my brother was gone Until the end of the war. As secures war was declared, all the men volunteered for service. They were all Very enthusiastic and had a let Of figlittingapirit.Z0ere was no way we were Ong to give in; The sad fact was, the country Was unprepared for war. Once Once the .blitikreig started, there irereliorablitit raids every night and 41ii414titaAttY0 smoke trails, in the sky indkated "deg fights" between RAF and Nazi airesen.in fiat our neighborhood .eanite to be Otte night, we were all atianne. The sirens had gone attd Mother • Wiii.trying 1-4 hurry us outside to the rente.nt bornbsh1ter. Suddenly, ere was a creek. 1 put -fny hands over y d •t� 0 4d 1, etat ten enta in the dad 0,1004, y, 1 ask , 31, and rniraculousl "Only my girte rid Ott di 1/V10, an- 'Teiry Fox Rixo, ii-.siated for S':;e-P•t,. WinghaM's second annual Terry Foxiturt is slated for punday. Sept. 17. In 1900, over 84 participants took. part in the- first 104ilornetre run and ahnoat $9,000 was raised. This year marks the nititi,'. anniversary of 'Terry rex Runs across Canada, keeping alive the, dream _of the young man whose goal was to run across this country to raise money for cancer research. His run was cut short when he fell victim to a recurrence of the dis- ease, Although Terry Fox died several years ago, his dream remains alive in the hearts and minds of those who organize and participate in runs right across this country. - Last year, over 350,000 partici- pants across Canada at 2,400 run sites, raised over $5.8 million for cancer research. For the second year in a row, Dale and Linda Edgar of Gerrie are coordinating the Wingham run. The money raised is used strictly for cancer research; says Mrs. Edgar. There are no expenses on the day of the run as everything is donated. , The money is used to help fund special programs and important research -projects in the search for a cure for cancer. Last year, Lloyd "Casey" Case - more, a cancer patient in rentiesion,• was chosen as Wingham's official "Terry's Team Member". .; - In 1989, little Aimee Leishman of RR 5, Brussels, is the team member, symbolizing hope for those whose cancer is in remission and as a sign to Canadians that the money raised• is producing results. Two -and -one -half -year-old Aimee will participate in this year's run for those who cannot and will help to kick off Wingham's 1989 Terry Fox Run. For further details of Aimee's fight against cancer, see inside this week's edition of the newspaper. Sponsor sheets for this year's run are available at all local Canada Post locations, Shoppers' Drug Mart and' Triangle Discount, both in Wingham. The official opening ofthis year's run will,be at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17, at the picnic shelter at Riverside Par, with registration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Refreshinerits and Itotdogi will be atippliedt6-4 participants. Nominations sought for Junior Citizen program The Wingham Advance -Times and other members of the Ontario Community Newspapers Associa- dory; ttY aseeking •13.944,1* *$t, to4ttinftlot' Z.f Sponsors of the :malt no only want to Two •or so o $14 0 will bio phut -t t give a pat on th back•tOdrds of others who. represent the 'good kids" we all know. in 1986, Barry ivIcArthur of Wingham was chosen es a Junior cppo for his *Kw, pf twg Young- sters; from the *eters ottlie Carrie • dg}. • lugflcial nonaination forms are available at the office of every member community newspaper in Ontario, including The Advance - Times. - These nominations are accepted up to Oct. 31 of each year and any resident of Ontario, aged six to 18, is eligible to receive an aWard‘ • a tsk indhridualSmaybenorti4:.. These young people may be involved in worthwhile community service, have overcome disabling physical or psychological limita- tions or have performed acts of heroism, like Barry McArthur. A committee selects award recip- ients and the lieutenant governor of the province makes the ,presenta- tion of awards at the OCNA con- vention in March. These young award winners receive a plaquetit- ing their accomplishments, a Junior Citizen of the Year lapel' pin, $200 and a family portrait with the lieu- tenant governor. '.••• ei 4 9' • "*''' :Page 4A Lette'rs' • . • . Page Classifieds • , . . Page 8A Conrimunity News . . . . Page 11A • Sports Page 48 Recreation Guide •. • • • • Page 513 •. team this year- Wirtshaln's Junior 'C' hock* club, the Ironmen, has folded, at • leapt for this season. A number of factors entered into the decision to fold the team, including the availability of play- ers, coaches and executive. Last season the Ironmen challenged Hanover for, the league champi- onship, but lost. Port 1E1 g i n also has dropped out of the league this year, but there are new entries from Brussels and Grand Valley. • PEOPLE SPONSORS—Jeff Henderson (left) and Jayson MacLean (right) worked all surruner at the plirth Festival' thanks to the sponsorship of Western Foundry Company Ltd. of Wingham. With them. is.aurtan Resources Manager Wayne Phibbs of Western Foundry. o le' sponsorship lyth Festival Threegh fl ' frig work at, LgC technitians, induct.- ? 'Iliad a season's a, IthrifeenrItiPf *it Western C6 ' • IX - . „ • 1, .0. !• !!! ' Jok to another Ryerson student, and Alli- son Dunn of Bayfield, who is cur- rently studying Theatre Arts at York University. All three had the opportunity to work on every Blyth pmduction summet 'This is me first dine we've put together a 'people sponsorship' " , says fund-raiser Linda . Veliterrt,Votindry was the &est itimpany to pick up on ” TO sponsorship was worth 500 toward the salary of the ii..)Kiihrticiattea says Wayne ;, • t Phibbs, human resources manager at Western Foundry. .,The Festival people approached companies who have shown an interest in the festival in the past," he explained. "It sounded like a good idea to us." • Last year Western -Foundry donated $10,000 toward the Blyth capital building fund. ' Other "people" sponsors this season were Clinton Community Credit Union and Canadian Agra Holdings Ltd. of Kineardine and Wingham.