HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-06-09, Page 5Wednesday,June 9, 2004
Exeter Times—Advocate
5
Opinion Forum News
ROSS
HAUGH
BACK IN TIME
I OYEARS AGO
June 11, 1994 - The Children's
Hospital of Western Ontario is
receiving a cheque in the amount
of $16,847. 41 from a local
walkathon in memory of Audrey
and Steve Skinner's daughter
Stephanie Lynn.
Ausable River Nomads co-
ordinator Marie Brunzlow has
received a plaque and pin in hon-
our of 14 years of service. She
has been responsibLe for the organization of Red
Cross Blood donor clinics.
SHDHS javelin star Randy Johnston will go down
in the school's records as the first track and field
athlete to bring home a gold medal from OFSAA.
20YEARS AGO
June 10, 1984 - At Monday's South Huron
Hospital annual meeting, treasurer Jim Morlock
and administrator Roger Sheeler reported an oper-
ating profit for 1983 of $26,932. Despite this opti-
mistic report, chief of the hospital's medical staff
warned that many types of medical care now going
on at the hospital may have to be abandoned solely
for economic reasons.
The Exeter Scouts have a new tepee and tents
for their upcoming ventures thanks to a $1,000
donation from the R.E. Pooley branch of the Royal
Canadian Legion.
25 YEARS AGO
June 7, 1979 - Anniversary services at Zion
United Church in Crediton provided plenty of
memories for the congregation as Rev. M.E.
Reuter, pastor from 1943 to 1948 was the guest
speaker.
Pam O'Brien, an 18 year-old resident of Zurich
was named Queen at South Huron District High
school annual formal Friday night.
The new student council at SHDHS includes
president Mike Burke, vice-presidents Jeff Martens
and Patti Down, secretary Bonnie Baynham, trea-
surer Pete Klungel, athletic rep Liz Scott and social
convener Chris Mittleholtz.
35 YEARS AGO
June 9, 1969 - Only 12 of the some 70 cars
checked this week by the Ontario Department of
Transport received a safety sticker on the first try.
Ontario Hydro announced this week that the
Exeter area office will be closed down and the area
will be merged with Clinton and Strathroy areas.
About 60 percent of the 4,664 Exeter customers
will have their accounts in Clinton.
40YEARS AGO
June 9, 1964 - At the meeting of the Exeter
Senior Citizens club, selections by the Beatles
(William Rohde, Almer Passmore, Ray Cann and
Robert Jeffrey to recorded music evoked mild
screaming
Principal Arthur Idle reported this week that the
incidence of measles was on the decline at Exeter
Public School after taking a heavy toll during the
past few weeks.
Publication of a new weekly newspaper for the
village of Grand Bend will begin Friday according
to editor -publisher Wilma Dinnin. Patterned after
the original Holiday which appeared in Grand
Bend for several summers, the paper will be a six
column tabloid.
45 YEARS AGO
June 10, 1959 - Dr. and Mrs. M.C. Fletcher left
Monday to attend a medical convention in Scotland
after which they will visit the continent.
Mrs. Lorne Hicks entertained her Centralia
grade 8 students to dinner and theatre in London
Saturday evening where they saw the show "Green
Mansions".
50YEARS AGO
June 9, 1954 - The bowler who tossed the best
single game during the past season, Wes Ryckman
was named president of the Exeter Men's Bowling
Association.
60YEARS AGO
June 8, 1944 - Mr. H.K. Either of Crediton who
has been clerk -treasurer for the township of
Stephen for the past 10 years has resigned his
position because of i11 health and Mr. Lloyd
Hodgson of Centralia will take his place.
80YEARS AGO
June 7, 1924 - The S.M. Sanders Manufacturing
Company has closed its Hensall branch and the
business will now be confined to the Exeter
branch.
Seniors' Perspective
By Jim Bearss
ADULT ACTIVITIES C0 -ORDINATOR
2nd Annual Trade Fair:
I want to thank all the volunteers, exhibitors, enter-
tainers, staff at the South Huron Rec. Centre, staff at the
South Huron Municipal office, and all the people who
came to the show. The show was a real success. Thank
you, also, to Willis, the White Squirrel,
for adding fun to the festivities by putting �7!►JN
in a great performance at the Fair.
Mark your calendars now for June lst,
2005 for our third annual trade fair. A
full list of details will be in my column
next week.
Jim's Jottings:
At the Trade Fair, the Legion Branch
#167 donated books entitled: "Drug
Safety, The Choice Is Yours."
Approximately 200 copies were put in
bags and distributed at the Trade Fair.
A lady called and told me, when she got home, her high
school daughter saw the book and started to read it and
read the whole book, and wondered if she could get a
couple more for her friends. There is no doubt that there
are problems with drugs with some young people, and I
am proud to be a part of awareness of this problem and
supplying her with a couple more books on the topic.
Exeter Senior Citizens Meeting:
The Exeter Senior Citizens June 1st meeting was held
at the Exeter Legion. 48 members and friends enjoyed a
bountiful pot luck supper at 6 p.m. President Shirley
Kirk welcomed all and read the passage, "If I Only Had
The Time." The meeting opened with singing '0 Canada'
and repeating The Lord's Prayer. Celebrating June
birthdays were Gerald Dearing, Alma Davey, Lila Ellis,
Ruth Squires, Stu McLellan and Joyce Lavender. Cecil
and Ruth Squires celebrated a wedding anniversary.
Minutes of the May meeting and the treasurer's report
were given. June Hodgson reported on the Senior
Games. A show of appreciation was given from all the
members to Ray and June Hodgson for a job well done.
Euchreama is scheduled for October lst, 2004 at the
Legion and the next Seniors meeting is September 7th.
June Hodgson was chairperson for the program. Joyce
Lavendar read "Friendship" and read some jokes. Guest
speakers were Fred and Eleanor Clarke. They spoke
and showed slides of their trip to China. Eleanor told
how they ate, drank and laughed their way across
China. They travelled 5000 k.m. across by Jeep,
explored the Great Wall of China, and traveled through
the Gobe Desert. Articles were on display for all to see.
Ray Hodgson thanked them and presented them with a
gift of appreciation. June read "AAADD". Draw winners
were: Alma Davey, Eleanor Clarke, Lil McLellan, Aldene
Skinner, Elwood Truemner, Stu McLellan and Orville
Webber. Share The Wealth Winners were Almira Ford,
Wilma Davis, Jane Dearing, Gladys Bierling, Eldon
Heywood and Madeline Switzer. The meeting closed
with The Seniors prayer.
Upcoming Events:
June 12th "Elimination Draw & Party:" Come one,
come all to the Centralia Community Hall. This party will
be held Saturday, June 12th, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Centralia/Huron Park Lions Elimination Draw & Party.
Tickets available at the door.
June 19 "Fathers Day Special" Exeter Legion is
hosting a Father's day special on Saturday, June 19,
2004 Don Harvey will be providing the entertainment.
Note this will be the last meat draw until October.
June 13th "Childhood Cancer Walk a thon" Port
Franks Community Centre 1:00 p.m. Everyone welcome.
Call Diana Simpson for pledge sheets: 238-1155.
June 14th "Grand Bend Horticultural Bus Trip" to
McMillan Iris Garden in Norwich. For tickets, Call
Marion Maguire: 238-2212.
June 16th "Cooking for Kids with Barbara"6-8:30
p.m., Cost $12.00 Call the Grand Bend Youth Centre to
register: 238-1155.
June 17th " Diabetes Program" Everything you
need to know about Diabetes in this morning session
from 9-12 noon at the Grand Bend Area CHC, 69 Main
St East. Call Aileen Knip at 238-1556 ext #4 Everyone
welcome!
June 22nd "Diabetes Meter Class" Do you know
what your numbers really mean? Do you know how to
properly use your meter or would you like more infor-
mation? Then come to our class at the Grand Bend Area
CHC, 69 Main St East for the latest info. Contact Aileen
Knip, Diabetes Nurse Educator 238-1556 ext #4.
June 23rd "Huron Country Playhouse Guild
Lunch" Sandhills Golf Club 12:30 pm. New members
welcome call Mary at 238-5640.
June 24th "Understanding Cholesterol" Grand
Bend Area CHC, 69 Main St East 9:00-12:00. Learn how
to lower your cholesterol in this morning class.
Jim Bearss
Call 238-1556 ext # 4
June 24th "Junior Golf Tournament" Bayview
Golf Course. Register by June llth. 12:00 pm Tee off.
Cost: includes green fee, BBQ and prizes. Contact Glenna
Britton 238-8992. Sponsored by Grand Bend Optimist
Club.
September 24th "Gaither Homecoming
Concert" Grand Bend Golden Agers would like you to
join them in attending this great inspirational gospel
singing concert at the John Labatt Centre in London on
September 24th 2004.
For prices and motor coach details contact Marjorie
Love at (519) 243-4036.
September 30th "Grand River Dinner Cruise"
Grand Bend Golden Agers are arranging a Motor Coach
Tour to the Grand River Country. For more information
contact Marjorie Love at (519) 243-4036.
December 2nd " Simcoe Panorama of Lights" Contact
Marjorie Love at (519) 243-4036 to guarantee a seat on
a comfortable motor coach to see a spectacular selection
of Simcoe's famous Christmas light displays on
December 2, 2004. An enjoyable meal is also planned
Contact Marjorie Love at (519) 243-4036.
Exeter Legion Auxiliary Bingo:
Have a good time and a chance to win good prizes! All
games start at 7:00 p.m. and are held on June 10, &
June 24th. The bingo is played at the Exeter Legion Hall.
Usborne Central School 40th Anniversary:
Reminder: Usborne Central School's 40th Anniversary
is fast approaching on Saturday, July 10th. Please get
your registration package returned to Laurie Dykstra.
Meal tickets are now available. All the community is
welcome to attend this celebration. Contact Judith
Parker or Sharon Pavkeje for further information, tick-
ets or if you have memorabilia to contribute.
LestWe Forget: Orval Percy Lawson
Orval Percy Lawson was born in 1917 in Artland,
Saskatchewan. He moved with his parents and the rest
of the family at a very young age to Exeter Ontario. He
received his education at the Exeter Public School and
Exeter High School. After he completed his schooling, he
joined the staff at the Canadian Imperial Bank of
Commerce in Exeter. He was working at the Bank of
Commerce in Orillia, when he decided to enlist in the
Royal Canadian Air Force in the early months of 1942.
At the time, he was given the number #J/94370. After
Orval completed his basic training, he was posted to
Chatham, New Brunswick. On February 5th, 1943 he
graduated as an Observer in Aircrew. After his gradua-
tion, he followed this up by taking an advance course in
Prince Edward Island. In the meantime, and before
going overseas, Orval met and married his wife Annie
Mildred Lawson. Before going overseas, his wife gave
birth to two children, the first child Maureen Gail, and
the second child Carol Layne. Carol Layne unfortunately
met with an accidental death on March llth 1944, just
two months before her father lost his life over North
Africa on May 7th, 1944.
On completion of his last course, Orval was posted
overseas to England in July, 1943. From England he
was posted to North Africa, then to Italy, and later he
was posted back to North Africa again. On May 22nd
1944, Orval's parents Mr. & Mrs. George W. Lawson
received word that their son Pilot Officer Observer,
Orval Percy Lawson flying with the Royal Canadian Air
Force was reported missing May 7th, 1944 in North
Africa. His wife Annie Mildred Lawson of Orillia Ontario,
received word that her husband was killed in action on
May 7th 1944. He was 27 years of age at that time.
Orval was flying a Marauder Aircraft #FK 120
attached to #14 Squadron and failed to return from an
anti -shipping strike off the French and Spanish coasts.
Pilot Officer, Orval Percy Lawson has no known grave.
His name is carved on the Alamein War Memorial
Monument in Egypt. The campaign in the Western
Desert was fought between the Commonwealth forces,
with later the addition of two brigades of Free French,
and one each of Polish and Greek troops. They were all
based in Egypt, while the Axis forces German and Italian
forces were in Libya. It was a campaign of maneuver
and movement, the objectives being the control of the
Mediterranean. The link to the east was through the
Suez Canal, the Middle East oil supplies, and the supply
route to Russia through Persia.
Pilot Officer Observer Orval Percy Lawson, was the son
of George and Jennie Lawson of Exeter. Besides Orval's
parents the family consisted of his only brother, Flight
Sergeant Gerald Wesley Lawson. He was a pilot with the
Royal Canadian Air Force and was stationed in Scotland
at the time of his brother's death. A sister, Mrs. Garnet
Hicks, was living in Usborne Township, Huron County at
the time of her brother's death.
Next week: Alvin Edward Lindenfield
Fraud:
Secure Paper Money: It's In Your Hands
The Bank of Canada is issuing new high denomination
bank notes: The new 100$ and $20 notes complete the
See PERSPECTIVE page 6