HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-03-25, Page 13Governor-General Viscount
Alexander's Visit to
Clinton, October 16, 1946
David Yates
Special to the News Record
There is nothing more
Canadian than standing
for hours at the side of a
road waiting for the British
monarch or their repre-
sentative to pass by. When
it was learned that His
Excellency Viscount Alex-
ander, the Governor-Gen-
eral of Canada, would
open the International
Plowing Match in Port
Albert, communities along
the route conspired to
have the vice -regal train
routed to their town.
Difficult to imagine
today but until Trudeau-
mania in 1968, Canada's
Governors -General were
household names and far
more popular than elected
politicians. Canadians
treated their vice -regal
representatives as major
celebrities. Only the Royal
Family exceeded them in
prestige.
His Excellency Field
Marshall Harold Alexander
Rupert Leofric George
Alexander, the First Earl of
Tunis, had just been
appointed Canada's Gover-
nor-General in April 1946.
He was born into an aristo-
cratic British family in
England in 1891. He sur-
vived the First World War
as an infantry officer in the
Irish Guards and was
decorated for bravery.
During World War II, he
left on the last British
destroyer at Dunkirk. He
fought in Malay, India and,
later, against in North
Africa when King George V
awarded him the title of
First Earl of Tunis for his
role in defeating Rommel's
Afrika Korps.
Alexander was Canada's
last British born Governor-
General and, according to
his biography on the Gov-
ernors -General website, he
proved to be a popular
choice. He had a love for
Canada's outdoors and
travelled throughout the
Dominion as the Mon-
arch's Canadian
ambassador.
In Clinton, at the Octo-
ber 3 Board of Education
meeting, trustees believing
that opening day on
Wednesday, October 16
would be too crowded sen-
sibly decided to grant stu-
dents a day off on Thurs-
day to go to the plowing
match. However, that
would mean that students
would not be able to see
the King's representative
open the plowing match.
Accordingly, the board
wired His Excellency
explaining the situation
and requested that his
train make an unsched-
uled stop in Clinton.
At the last minute, on
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Wednesday morning of
October 16, the Governor -
General's staff wired
school officials that His
Excellency would make a
brief stop at the Clinton
CNR station to meet Clin-
ton's students. The Clin-
ton Collegiate Cadet Band
hurriedly donned uni-
forms and led a parade of
hundreds of collegiate and
public school students to
the train station to wait for
His Excellency.
As the vice -regal train
steamed into the Clinton
station at 12:41 pm, His
Excellency appeared on
the platform, and the Col-
legiate Cadet Corps per-
formed the General Salute.
Board Chair Alex Cudmore
introduced Viscount Alex-
ander to the assembled
crowd of excited students
who, 'The Clinton News -
Record' reported gave him
'a right Royal welcome.'
His Excellency was visi-
bly moved by the reception
and mingled amongst the
students asking questions
about the town, breeds of
cattle and industries in the
area. Alexander also 'chat-
ted pleasantly and in an
interesting manner' with
trustees and Collegiate
Principal E. A. Fines. At
12:51, the vice -regal train
began pulling out of the
Clinton station. As his
train left the platform, His
Excellency endeared him-
self to his cheering audi-
ence by declaring the rest
of the day a holiday.
Over an hour late (His
Excellency also stopped
briefly in Seaforth to meet
the Mayor and Council),
Viscount Alexander
arrived in Goderich where
he was greeted by more
school children. Gordon
McGavin, President of the
Walton Plowmen's Associ-
ation, officially welcomed
him to Huron County on
behalf of over 80 000 peo-
ple waiting in drizzling
rain for his arrival. It was
fitting that the former mili-
tary Field Marshall dressed
in civilian clothes opened
the 'Victory' Plowing
Match on the site of the
former Port Albert Airbase.
The Victory Match proved
a tremendous success and
symbolized the return to
normalcy after a long and
bloody war.
Although Viscount Alex-
ander's 'unofficial' visit
lasted only ten minutes, an
editorial in the 'News -
Record's reported that it
'undoubtedly will remain
forever in the memories of
those who had the pleas-
ure of seeing and hearing
him.' Viscount Alexander's
visit is also memorable
because he is the last Gov-
ernor-General who has vis-
ited Clinton.
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Congratulations & Best Wishes
To
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Fabulous Dresser, Great Smile, & Sense of Humour
* Dedicated to making Clinton a great place to live.
Thanks for being such a cherished friend.
John & Bev Elliott,
David & Joyce Marguerite Bayley Slorach
(1934-2014 - Just too loved to ever leave us)
Wednesday, March 25, 2015 • News Record 13
Contributed photo
Field Marshall Harold Alexander, Earl of Tunis and Governor-
General of Canada, c. 1946
in onnewsrecord.com
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