November 2017 issue

20
(Continued from page 18)
tions at 519-856-0884 or vdavidge1@cogeco.ca.
Skiing
It costs $10.00 plus HST to join the
Everwhite Ski Club. You register and
pay for Downhill Skiing at the front
desk of the Evergreen Centre. It helps
to own a 5-7 Pass purchased from
Blue Mountain. We ski every Monday
at Blue Mountain while there is snow.
We carpool by meeting at the lower
Evergreen Parking Lot by the Enabling
Garden at 8:00 am and return to
Guelph by 6:00 pm.
Contact Cathy Densmore (519) 822-
2220, for Ski Club information.
Evergreen Snooker Club
The Evergreen Snooker Club is composed
of a group of active, friendly
players with skill levels covering the
full spectrum from learner/beginner to
accomplished player. If you are interested
in learning the game, or have
played in the past and want to get
back into it, please drop by the snooker
room. You will be assured a warm
welcome and a place to try your hand
at one of our three tables. The snooker
room is open weekdays between 9:00
am and 4:00 pm and any other time
the Evergreen Centre may be open.
The primary focus of the club is to
have fun, build friendships and socialize.
Your snooker skill level is irrelevant
so don’t feel intimidated if you
are a beginner. Prospective members
may visit the club room up to three
times without charge to help with
their decision on whether to join.
While most of the current members
are men, there is a small group of
women who play regularly (typically
on Tuesday mornings) so ladies, don’t
be shy to give it a try.
Membership is available to all
paid-up members of the GWSA on
payment of the prescribed annual
snooker activity fee. The current fee
of $70 (plus tax) buys you access to
the snooker room anytime it is open
and all the snooker you care to play.
Texas Hold’Em
Why not come out and have fun with
us? We are averaging about 16 players
a week and are situated in the Dining
Room.
We charge $1.50 per week and pretty
well all of that goes back to the
GWSA. We play from 6:30 to 8:30
pm.
Each player starts off with $500 in
real casino chips and, as we do not
play for money, we work on a point
system; the one with the most points
each week is the winner. We play until
there is only one player left or 8:30
pm comes, whichever comes first.
We will gladly teach anyone who is
interested in playing. Just follow the
laughter to find us.
We have about six ladies playing at
present and would always welcome
more; we do not want to become a
men’s club! Remember, you have to
be a member of GWSA to play.
Watercolour Painters Club
The Evergreen Watercolour Painters
Club provides an opportunity for watercolour
painters to practice their
hobby along with others sharing the
same interest, while encouraging one
another and receiving information,
ideas and inspiration. While we do not
offer classes or lessons, we welcome
accomplished watercolour painters.
There is a small annual membership
fee and membership with the
GWSA is required. We meet on the
1st and 5th Wednesday from 12:30 to
4:00 pm and 3rd Wednesday from
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 pm in Room 2.
(Continued from page 14)
inner court and out front, then into the street where we all
stood around a little dazed not knowing what to do next.
Our neighbours from the very elegant Pelham Terrace
brought clothes for those who hadn’t been able to reach
any of their day clothes. Dorothy and I had managed to get
some clothing and managed to get dressed there in the
street. Our administrator Sergeant told us to proceed to the
Victoria and Albert where we would receive further directions
and any minor wounds would be dressed. Dorothy
had a small cut on her head and I had a concussion on my
left eardrum, which meant that I had a high note sounding
for the next three weeks.
As there weren’t any residences available, those uninjured
were all given a railway pass and sent home until we
received further instructions. That was the day we were
supposed to write our final exams! Some months later, we
learned that nine girls died in that bombing.
Now I was off to face another challenge! I was wearing
my battledress over my pyjamas, my hat and my shoes and
socks. For travelling, I should be wearing my best blues,
i.e., tunic, skirt, stockings and shirt, collar and tie, and carrying
steel helmet and gas mask!.
All railway stations were full of police - RAF, Military
and American, who we called Snowdrops because they
wore white helmets!
I was disappointed, I think, that I wasn’t considered to be
out of line in my strange attire; I might have been a desert-
T S - N 2017 — V. 42, N. 2
er!
After two weeks at home, I was sent to No. 1 Radio
School at RAF Cranwell, the home of spit and polish, the
Officers Training College. We did two weeks revision, sat
the exam and had the privilege of choosing where we
would like to work. I chose Coastal Command and was
posted to Plymouth, to RAF Mountbatten.
This was manned by 10 Squadron, the Royal Australian
Air Force who were using the Short Sunderland Flying
boat to hunt for U-boats in the Channel and the Bay of Biscay.
They were a complete unit to themselves; the Radar
Section was run by the Canadians, and the RAF managed
all the ground wireless equipment and visiting aircraft.
I was the first woman wireless mechanic on that station.
I was tested technically by having to design and construct a
small control board, which would be in operation should
the main board at Head Quarters be out of action. My
board was in a secret hillside location. However, I did it
and gained some kudos!
It would be four years and many changes before we were
back to the beaches, this time in Normandy, using landing
craft specially designed for carrying troops and their ammunition
and discharging them oft times with difficulty on
the beaches.
With gratitude to all those who kept us safe on these long
journeys in our young lives often sacrificing theirs.
We will never forget!