2001 June 1 / Great Pics I was on search engine Google under Oak Bay High, there is a link that reads "Oak Bay High 1962,1963, and 1964." I clicked on and after wading through lots of preliminary pages, there are pages and pages of pics from those years. I recognized some people, I'm sure some of you will recognize more.. it's worth a look! http://24.113.65.130/1963site/Introduction.htm diane ddyer2001@excite.com June 1 / Oak Bay Boathouse Oh what a wonderful picture!! Loved to hang out there and once I found a seagull with a broken wing. I took it home and tried to nurse it back to health, and was devastated when it died. Thanks for the memory! diane ddyer2001@excite.com June 2 / Street Cars How many of you recall the old street cars that were pulled from service in the early fifties? I went to school on one for grades one and two with a rather nice conductor named Larry. I guess they were a headache for B.C. Electric but quite a lot of fun for us. Remember the small electric shock when climbing on in the rain, the sudden bang and sparks when the circuit breaker would trip in that box next to the conductor, being late for school when the wheels occasionally came off the rails, the smell of ozone generated by the electric motors and the creaking and rattling of these cars built around the turn of the century. In hindsight we let a valuable treasure disappear when the bodies were sold off for homes, chicken coupes and coffee shops. Imagine a couple of them restored today being operated as a tourist attraction. See attached photos. Click here to see streetcar in front of the Empress Hotel in late '40s. Click here to see streetcar diner in Langford in early '50s. Richard rgoodall@sunwave.net June 2 / Oak Bay Pub Walk - June 18 Dave Foster wants everyone to know that there'll be a pub walk somewhere in Oak Bay on June 18th – to celebrate the anniversary of our reunion and to check out the new Penny Farthing pub on the Avenue. Sounds like Don Ingham will be out from Denmark to hoist a pint. Check with Dave for the particulars – davfoste@islandnet.com Cheers, Gary gwilcox@direct.ca / Vancouver June 2 / Reunion Reunion??!! Oh, you lucky ducks (I think we said that about 1956) who live in the vicinity of the reunion reunion walk!! Glad Don will represent those of us who are far-flung. Have a good one! And love the pic of the boathouse. One year, I think I was 12, I vowed I would swim EVERY day of the summer. So daily Martha Attwell (Downing) and I would ride our bikes to the little cove by the wooden swing and I would swim. Or at least paddle around. Sometimes she would come in, too. It wasn't exactly a polar-bear swim on Christmas Day, or Boxing Day, but it sure took some courage on some cloudy days. My Aussie husband marvels at how I can swim here when he wouldn't venture in! They bred them tough in Oak Bay! Pls note that if you wanna send me msgs, my email address has changed to: redoak@austarmetro.com.au Thanks! Sandy redoak@austarmetro.com.au / canberra June 3 / Swimming Oh, Sandy, I understand exactly what you mean!! Whenever I tell anyone from here that won't venture beyond the heated pools that I regularly swam in the ocean in Vic. and never swam in a heated outdoor pool til I was well into adulthood, they can't believe it. Neither can I, in retrospect!! diane ddyer2001@excite.com June 3 / Anniversary Walk Considering the number in our class who reside on the Island, this walk could be quite an enjoyable event. Having said that and providing the long range forecast is favourable, I may just fire up the old Vette and head out to join you. Hard to believe a year has shot by since we assembled at the yacht club that evening after 40 years. Such a great group of people. Richard rgoodall@sunwave.net June 4 / Street Cars I remember when I was 4 or 5 and my great aunt having to take me off the street car because I was crying so loudly. The Oak Bay Boat House is very warm in my heart. Bob Moffatt and I would clamber over the rocks from the golf club to Rattenbury Beach several times a week and stop at the Boat House for a chocolate milk shake which were the best. Ian ielse@home.com June 5 / June 18th Walk Hi All, Looks like Monday, June 18th is our day. Meet in the Willows Beach parking lot 10:30 pm. The suggested route will be along Beach Drive to Windsor Park and up Oak Bay Ave. to the new pub. Lunch about 11:30ish for anyone who wants to meet us there. After lunch we take Wilmot Place, cross the school grounds to Christie Way, Cadboro Bay to Dalhousie. Looking forward to some new faces this month, especially some ladies. Dave davfoste@islandnet.com June 7 / June 18th Walk Subject: small significant change Hi All, Frank May's neighbour has advised us that the pub a la Oak Bay is very busy at lunch. To insure our place and allow more stable time (acceptable for dudes approaching 60), we have decided to depart Willows at 10:30 instead of 11. Dave davfoste@islandnet.com June 8 / Mr Ernie Costain Ernest James Costain 1911 - 2001 Hi Everyone - Just wondered if others noticed that Mr. Costain passed away recently. He was 90. Although the exact date of death wasn't mentioned in the Times-Colonist of June 8th, there will be a celebration of his life at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club on Monday, June 11th at 1:00 pm. I very much liked him as a teacher, and of course everyone who went on the Europe trip will remember he and his wife Katherine, who was the nurse on the trip. Sorry to miss the upcoming walk. Going to Toronto for a couple of weeks. Maybe one of these times I'll be able to go with the group. The new pub is great! Just what the Avenue needed! Martha Martha Attwell (Downing) / mjkdowning@ampsc.com June 10 / Ernie Costain He was my home room teach and taught me Latin. Always remember his wisdom "You can get just as good a tan studying in the shade as in the sun". An Oak Bay Corner Stone. Ian ielse@home.com / Burlington, ON June 11 / Mr. C. I'll never forget taking Physics with Mr. C. When we walked into the class, there were 10 girls. His jaw dropped, and he said ..... "10 girls .... they must be listening to me at the office." The next year we spent racing up and down stairs, stopwatches at the ready, trying to figure out our horsepower. He certainly was a great ol guy! Laurel Laurel Johnson / laurelj@hotmail.com / Tsawwassen June 11 / Memories Hi all, I am good friends with Sharon Leask who used to be Sharon Stidson (or is it Stidston--even THAT doesn't look right). She was a year behind us in school and so far has not heard of any reunion this year. That information makes me all the more appreciative of our great reunion committee – thanks again. Roz Roz (Johnston) Showers / showers@dccnet.com June 14 / Checking In Hi everyone, I was in Victoria for a few days last week, had lunch with Bronwen, checked out the Museum and the Emily Carr exhibit. Nice to re-visit her again. Bought a copy of her journals, "Hundreds and Thousands" which I had never read, absolutely wonderful read! Sadly, my parents are so fragile, yet so stubborn. I left Sat. feeling very shattered and exhausted emotionally and physically, saw Charmaine in Van. Sat. nite for dinner, and felt like I was in some kind of twilight zone still. Sorta came out of it Sunday, sis and I went up to Whistler, would you believe I had not been there since it was just a few private A-Frames? We tromped around in the rain and had a great time. Hope you all have a great time on your walk. Maybe next time I book a flight up, I can time it around a walk! Love to all. diane ddyer2001@mediaone.net or ddyer2001@excite.com June 14 / Reunion Anniversary Hi all, A year today we were finding each other again after many years. It was a great experience, and it is rewarding to see that the links are being continued in many ways. Have a great walk on Monday! Sandy redoak@austarmetro.com.au June 16 / Reunion Anniversary Walk Hi all. Gone for a walk – will update things on my return. Gary June 20 / 18 June Walk A wonderful walk taking us back to our childhood memories. The beer and the lies and war stories were great too. Thanks to the organizers, I really look forward to the next one. Tom Tom Miles / woodnpots@home.com / Comox June 24 / First Annual Reunion Walk Slide Show It was good seeing everyone at the walk. I've organized a few photos to create a new slide show in the rumpus room. Hope you enjoy it. Gary gwilcox@direct.ca / Vancouver June 25 / Reunion Walk Frank asked me if I came all that way just for the walk, and I said 'Of Course.' In reality it was a very welcome breather in the process of cleaning out my mum's place (yes, another sack full of Thrifty bags) after she came into a care facility. It sure inspires to clean out ones own junk! Anyway, back to the walk. The weather was great, Richard's knowledge of Oak Bay never ceases to amaze one, and Zoel, Jill and Laurel did find us upstairs in the Pub. Now, a week later, I am back at work, trying to get over Jet Lag, and with the prospect of no long weekends until Christmas. Don Don Ingham / di.fks.bow@12mail.dk / Odense, Denmark