HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-11-21, Page 1414
Times–Advocate
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Local family to be featured on History Channel
By Andrea Macko
ST. MARYS JOURNAL ARGUS
ST. MARYS — A photo is often
worth a thousand words — and
sometimes, even a television show,
in the case of a St. Marys family.
The story of John Tomlinson's
journey to Canada in 1930 with the
Salvation Army Boy Farmers is the
topic of an upcoming episode of the
History Channel's Ancestors in the
Attic, debuting Saturday.
Tomlinson died suddenly over 20
years ago, but his widow, Jessie,
lives in St. Marys (the couple also
lived in Kirkton-Woodham for
years); her son David approached
show producers about doing an
episode based on a photo of the 30
boys that travelled with his father to
Canada over 70 years ago.
The Tomlinson story is a depar-
ture from the usual subjects the
show tackles — according to its
website, it seeks to "uncover per-
sonal dramas in your family tree,"
such as long -lost family members.
David Tomlinson, John and
Jessie's son, who now resides in
Aylmer, wanted the show to help
him track down the other boys —
now elderly men — in the photos in
an effort to learn more about his
own father. Crews visited a few of
the locations where John worked as
young man, and also did some tap-
ing around the Woodham area this
past summer, where John and
Jessie eventually settled.
Jessie says her husband came to
Canada because "he wanted to
make a fresh start, and this seemed
like a good way to do so." Many of
his fellow boy farmers were
orphans, which made the trip over-
seas to work long hours on farms
easier. There was also an uncle in
Toronto who made the journey a
few years before John.
John had a close-knit extended
family in England, and it was
through this family that the couple
met; although they were both born
in Hucknall, it wasn't until she was
visiting her future husband's aunt
that she met the handsome soldier,
who returned to his homeland to
fight for Canada in the Second
World War. Jessie would make the
Documentary —Above, Jessie Tomlinson sits with some artifacts of
her late husband's Iife.The family's story will be featured on television
this weekend. (photo/St. Marys Journal Argus)
move to Canada early in 1947, and
they married that February.
She says the television crew was
only able to locate the descendants
of two of the other boys in the
photo; a brother and sister from
Vancouver Island, and a man from
Montreal. They were flown in for
the taping. "It was very nice to meet
them," says Tomlinson. "And it was
also very poignant because the
woman had never seen the photo
(of her father) before."
While it may have been difficult to
track down the other descendants
of the boy farmers, the Tomlinsons
had a valuable link to John's past
through his diaries, which Jessie
says he kept for most of his life.
"I just had to go into the drawers
(to get the diaries) find out anything
the crew needed," she says.
Tomlinson is nervously excited
about the show. "I've not a clue
what's going to be on," she says
with a broad smile, and adds that
she's looking forward to seeing how
all the research finally comes
together when the episode airs next
week.
"I was surprised they were taking
it on — but they said it would that it
would make a good story in the
end."
Episode 2024 of Ancestors in the
Attic, which features the Tomlinson
story, airs Sat., Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
and repeats Wed., Nov. 28 at 1 p.m.
and 8 p.m. on the History Channel.
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GRAND BEND - Deb
Campbell, Pork promotion
field representative was
guest demonstrator and
speaker at the November
meeting of Grand Bend
Women's Institute. The
members learned that
pork is the most popular
meat in the world. A 100
gram average serving of
raw trimmed pork con-
tains 2.7 grams of fat. It
was noted that 52 to 54
nutrients are needed each
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sentation Deb prepared a
pork luncheon. Peppers,
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brown sugar mixed with
pork tubers were com-
bined to make a delicious
dish.
Deb reminded us to
always try and buy
Ontario pork. Our food
system works as recalls
are quick.
President Cass Lovie
chaired the meeting that
followed. Cass reminded
us of the importance of
smiling and speaking pos-
itively.
Upcoming
Christmas Dinner
Our Christmas meeting
will be a dinner at the
Colonial Hotel. There is a
Quilt Show at the Museum
in Goderich from
November to March.
We'll support the
Agriculture and Water
Festival, the Huron
County Playhouse Guild
and the Christmas Bureau
at Exter with money
donations. Birthdays
were celebrated at the
Blue Water Nursing Home
Nov. 20. Grand Bend
Women's Institute branch
will prepare the WI Fair
display list for Zurich
Fair.
Donna Lovie gave the
Convention and the
District Board Meeting
report.
A report from the sum-
mer Farmers' Market was
given. An average of 16
vendors were present
each week.
Material for the
"Summer Book" , pub-
lished by the Province
was collected. An inter-
esting ribbon angelcraft
ROSE session (Rural
Ontario Sharing
Education) was held on
Tuesday.
Several group games
were enjoyed by the
ladies at the end of the
meeting.
If you are interested in
the work and activities of
Grand Bend Women's
Institute please check out
our website or call presi-
dent Cass Lovie, 238 2727
for information.
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TIMES ADVOCATE
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