Bill's Books

 Summer of '51

by Bill Irvine
To Whom It May Concern:

Cadboro Bay Beach in Victoria BC brings fond memories to this aging octogenarian's mind. Starting in 1950 it was where I lived with my parents and five siblings at 2546 Killarney Road. Our home was very large and very old. It had five bedrooms and a full basement. There were wood-burning-fireplaces in every room except the kitchen and more bathrooms than one can remember including one in the basement. It had an upright grand piano in the 24ft. living room and Bill Gaetz — a family friend of some 17 years-of-age — got considerable use out of it during the few years we lived there.

Many are familiar with Herman Raucher's Summer of '42. Critics stated its faults may lie in its obsession with nostalgia. This, perhaps, makes my comparison even more apropos. Not to the coming-of-age tones of the former but to the coming-of-age of this 14 year old boy. This is my reasoning for my reference to my Summer of '51.

Even though I was still attending high school it seems my every free hour that summer was spent at The Beach. My memories are filled with the countless hours of sunbathing, swimming, building rafts from beach logs and enjoying time with friends and neighbours. Friends like Edgar Pugh and neighbours like John Caldwell.

Edgar lived up along Finnerty Road and John lived the other side of Cadboro Bay Rd. John's older brother, Douglas, owned a fishing boat and we could hear its Esop, one-cylinder engine from a mile away as it plied the waters of  Haro Strait. Doug used to 'beach it' on the Cadboro Bay beach sand with the use of a home-made drydock. The 'drydock' consisted of four timbers constructed to form one X forward and one X aft to support the vessel. Once the tide went out, the hull was high-and-dry to effect maintenance or repairs. Smart lads these Caldwell boys!

During the off season, as in fall, winter and spring, we all hung out at King's Coffee Shop on Sinclair Rd. in Cadboro Bay Village. Here we could also interact with off-duty Canadian Army personnel (Pongoes) who were stationed at the army camp west from Finnerty Rd. way up on the high ground (now the University of Victoria). The army lads were pretty friendly to us civilians and none ever came in the coffer shop in uniform. It was strictly R&R for the lads (there were no women on the base). Canada was at war in Korea in '51 in the war that had begun June 25, 1950.

So upon my return to Cadboro Bay Beach c.1955, I considered myself a seasoned veteran operating on home turf. As I recall, the Beach Pavilion was open and operating. They held dances and rented the place out to make ends meet. My memory doesn't serve me well regarding the pavilion because not living in the area any more, this was my first time returning.

It's a fact the pavilion was owned and operated by James Barkley and his wife, Judy (nee Meighen). I only met James there once as he came out of the pavilion to confront us and he seemed like a tough customer to me. Presumably, a good attribute to have considering some of the clientele he dealt with. My family on the Hurst side have no relationship to James but Judy is in the branches of our Hurst family tree (on my mother's side).

Judy-Glee Style Shop on Esquimalt Rd., was the name chosen by my Aunt Glee (Margaret "Glee" Hurst) and her new partner, Judy Barkley. who was Glee's cousin. Judy was the daughter of  Canadian Prime-Minister, Arthur Meighen's cousin. Aunt Glee (Margaret "Glee" Hurst) was my mother's sister.

Most have heard of the Wedding Crashers but what about the Graduation Crashers? It was just as much a surprise to me to learn the vocation actually exists. Some friends-of-friends had gathered around an individual driving a red, 1953 convertible and were going graduation crashing and asked if I'd like to join them. Who could say no?

This is how I wound up in the back seat of a red convertible at Cadboro Bay beach sometime around 6p.m. on an evening late in June 1955. My octogenarian memory is not that good, and recalling exactly what happened there after some seven decades could be questionable. For certain I did not enter the pavilion. There was a graduation event underway but some made it clear we were not welcome to attend nor observe.

It seems someone knew another individual named Earl Large was attending some events. It was not known if Earl was a graduate or maybe was just attending with his prom date and several friends. Earl came from a well-to-do family and had considerable income of his own so travelled in style. His choice for the evening festivities included a rented, big, black limo and a downtown hotel room. As near as I recall, I got as far as outside the hotel room and that was it for me.

In an intriguing web of connections, Edgar Pugh's name landed on my radar recently. Delving into Cadboro Bay's history, I stumbled upon Bill Sylvester, the pioneer behind BC Airlines in the 1950s. Sylvester, tied by marriage to Joan Golby, had a step-daughter named Pam Golby. Remarkably, Pam Golby happened to be Edgar Pugh's girlfriend. During one evening visit to the Golby residence at Ten Mile Point, I found myself in the company of Edgar, Pam, and the soon-to-be-world-renowned figure, Bill Sylvester himself.

From the inception of BC Airlines to the familial ties that brought Edgar Pugh into acquaintance with the renowned Sylvester, each connection creates a captivating tapestry of relationships within the backdrop of Cadboro Bay's history. These chance encounters and relationships paint a vivid picture of how interconnected our lives can be, often in the most unexpected ways.

Regards, Billy

Labels: 1951, cadboro, large, pugh