Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association Thresher Reunion, 1987-09-09, Page 5Gladys keeps toes tapping
When you see a dark-haired lady
accompanying some of the Old
Tyme fiddlers and step-dancers
this weekend, pay special attention
to her: it is likely Gladys Van
Egmond, and as chairman of both
the Saturday and Sunday pro
grams and competitions, she is the
person who has arranged all the
talent you will enjoy at the
Threshers’ Reunion this weekend.
Mrs. Van Egmond of RR 1,
Clinton, has been Jamboree and
Dance Competition chairman for
the past three years, and before
that, she assisted Simon Hallahan
with the job. She is justifiably
proud of the way the entertainment
section of the Reunion has grown
since its beginning, and especially
of the fact that professionals have
been used to judge both the
fiddler's contest and the step
dance competition over the past
few years.
“The show has been attracting
competitors of such excellence
lately that it would be unfair to use
anybody but professional judges
for their talent,” she says. “Many
of our contestants play and dance
at other competitions all across
southwestern Ontario, and they
deserve professional judges.”
This year, for the third year in a
row. Jim Flannigan of London and
Karl McNaughton of Lucan will
judge the Old Tyme fiddlers’
competition, while Nancy Norris of
Staffa and Lila Storey of Seaforth
will again place the step-dance
winners. All four have been at their
jobs for a number of years, and are
fully qualified for the superior job
they handle.
However, Mrs. Van Egmond
says that a new slate of judges will
have to be found for the 1988
competitions, since it is unfair to
the competitors to perform under
the same ones year after year.
“But it won’t be easy,” she points
out. “It’s hard to find qualified
judges - there just aren’t that many
of them within a reasonable
distance.”
As well as being a familiar figure
at the Blyth Threshers’ Reunion,
Mrs. Van Egmond has also helped
organize Jamborees at Seaforth,
Stanley Township, Exeter and
Uniondale, to name only a few. She
also attends a large number of
contests all over southwestern
Ontarioeach year, where she often
accompanies contestants on the
piano in both the fiddle and
step-dancing competitions.
She comes by her unique talents
by way of her family background:
her parents, Mabel and Bill
Collins, were musicians and music
teachers in the Seaforth area for
many years, and Mrs. Van Eg
mond can scarcely remember a
time w hens he was not involved
with music. Herdadwas a keen
competitor at local fiddle contests,
and young Gladys accompanied
him on the piano, on stage, from
the time she was just eight years
old.
Mrs. Van Egmond’s grounding
was in classical piano, which her
mother taught, but when Old Tyme
music came along, she found that
that was where her heart really lay,
and has been involved with it ever
since, although she still keeps up
her classical training at home,
where her piano is a very large part
of her daily life.
Her fascination with music has
also led to her very unique hobby,
which not only absorbs her for
hundreds of hours each year, but
also does a vast service to many
young musicians, and to many an
oldster who has created the music
she loves.
Mrs. Van Egmond is one of only
a very few people in the province
who can and do write down the
music they hear around them, if it
has never been written before. “A
lot of old-time fiddlers play by ear,
and make up their own songs, ’ ’ she
says. “If it has never been written
down anywhere, ever, I tape-re-
cord it and then write it out for
whoever wants it.”
She has helped many a young
musician in this way; youngsters
whohave heard and taped some
previously-unrecorded music
somewhere, liked it, and want to
GLADYS VAN EGMOND
THE CITIZEN. WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 9, /9«?7. PAGE A-5.
We wish continued success
to the annual
Huron Pioneer Thresher
& Hobby Association
26th Reunion
Lyle & Yvonne,
Darryl & Karen
Youngblut & Son
Plumbing and Heating
BLYTH 523-9585
learn toplay it. If they bring it to
her, Mrs. Van Egmond will write it
out for them, even providing her
own chords so that each piece has
on it her unique signature. I ’s a
fascinating and unusual hobby,
and Mrs. Van Egmond has several
fat loose-leaf binders with all the
‘ ‘ new’ ’ music she has recorded and
written out over much of her life.
As well as being a very vital part
of the Blyth Threshermen’s Re
union each year, Mrs. Van Eg
mond is involved in such a range of
other activities as would complete
ly wear out the average person.
To start with, she and her
husband, Jack, own and work a
dairy farm just north of Clinton,
with one of the county’s largest
Jersey herds. Egmond Farms not
only retails all-Jersey natural
cheddar cheese (“cheddar cheese
the way it used to be!”), but Mrs.
Van Egmond is treasurer of the
Perth/Huron Jersey Club, and
both she and Jack take an active
part in all Club activities through
out the year.
As well, Mrs. Van Egmond is a
member of both the Board of
Directors and of the Ways and
Means Committee at Seaforth’s
Van Egmond House, and past
secretary of the same organization.
LastSpring, shewonan Ontario
Citizen’s Award for her work with
the Foundation she acquired by
marriage into the famous Van
Continued on page 6
Blyth on the occasion of your
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CIDERFEST
I
D
E
R
F
E
13th Annual
Sept 27
Van Egmond House
Egmondville
Noon to 6 P.M.
Demonstrations,
Pressing Cider, Sausage Making,
Wagon Rides, Blacksmith, Cider,
"The Sitting Room", Flea Market,
Spinning, Weaving, Soap
Making, Old Time Games, Apple
Treats, Egmondville Pottery.
\
T
Featuring
Days Of 1837
Feast Of "37"
At 4 P.M.
Time Capsule Opening Of
New Interpretation Center
As a part of this progressive farming
community we at McGavin’s send
Best Wishes to the visitors and participants
of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and
Hobby Association
CRAIG HARDWOODS
LTD.
Allan Craig Bill Craig
526-7512 AUBURN__ 526-7220. - . ...
[Front row, left to right]: Roger Humphries, Ken Pethick, Hugh Campbell, Steve
Coulter, Bob Mathers, Gary Williamson, Jeff McGavin, Neil Williamson and Bill
Coutts. [Middle row, left to right]: Bill Penningsand Gary McCutcheon. [Back row,left
to right] Tom Shannon, Bryan Finlayson, Brian McGavin, Neil McGavin, Marie
McGavin and Mary Lou Vincent. Absent: Blaine Marks and Tim Nolan.
FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED
887-6365 Walton 527-0245