17 (65-73): Retirement

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Illustrated
Chronology
of Three
Generations

John G.
Fletcher

Chapter 17: 1965 to 1973

Throughout this chronicle, the reader may find it useful to refer to the following:

Chapter(s):	Title:	Period:
One	Fletchers as Celts, Scots, and Highlanders	BCE 6000 to 1800
Two	From the Highlands to Canadian Homestead	1800 to 1900

Chapter(s):	Title:	Period:

Three to Ten	James Fletcher III (my grandfather)	1878 to 1972

Chapter(s):	Title:	Period:

Eleven	John Fletcher: Early Years	1911 to 1917
Twelve	School and Adolescence	1917 to 1929
Thirteen	Depression Years	1930 to 1939
Fourteen	War Years	1939 to 1945
Fifteen	Higher Education at U of T	1945 to 1949
Sixteen	Teaching	1949 to 1965
Seventeen	Librarianship and Golf	1965 to 1973
Eighteen	Retirement and Senior Golf	1973 to 1985
Nineteen	Senior Golf and Songsheet Collecting	1985 to 1995
Twenty	The Nineteenth Hole and Cruciverbalism	1995 to 2002

Chapter(s):	Title:	Period:

Twenty-one to Fortynine	The Life of David Fletcher	born 1955

Chapter Seventeen: Librarianship and Golf (1965 to 1973)

17.1 Society and Politics in the 1960s
17.2 Golf: Membership at Scarboro G. and C.C.
17.3 Son Ron and His Golf (1958 - 1963)
17.4 Son Bern and His Golf (1962 - 1967)
17.5 Teaching, Running the Malvern Library, and OSSTF
17.6 Esther Fletcher, 1960s
17.7 Senior Golf Tournaments and Related Trips 1: Halifax (1967)
17.8 Senior Golf Tournaments and Related Trips 2: Saskatoon (1968)
17.9 Son David and His Golf (1966 - 1973)
17.10 Coaching the Malvern Golf Team
17.11 Politics, Society, and Culture, 1970s
17.12 Trips
17.13 Life and Death on Beaufort Road
17.14 Parents: Move to Thamesview and Passing On
17.15 Other Fletchers and Macknesses (60s and 70s)
17.16 Construction of the "Golf Pit" in Basement (1972)
17.17 Senior Golf Tournaments and Related Trips 3: Victoria (1972)
17.18 Last Year of Teaching

Chapter Seventeen: Librarianship and Golf (1965 - 1973)

17.1 Society and Politics in the 1960s

Blackout 9 Nov. 1965

Apollo Missions and the Race to the Moon

In 1960, Kennedy had committed the U.S. to going to the moon. In the late 1960s, they made the steps necessary to accomplish this goal. Apollo 8 made Frank Borman, _____ and ______ the first men into deep space when they orbited the moon in December, 1968. Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon on ____, 1969, fullfilling Kennedy's mission. The Soviets had their own moon mission at the same time, but it was un-manned and it crashed on the surface of the moon the same week that Apollo succeeded.

Remembrance Day

A single entry in John's diary for 11 November, 1972 says a lot about his attitude about society and the direction it was going. The entry addresses two concerns of John: Rememberance Day, and "Winter Rules".

First of all, Remembrance Day was something very important for John. This was one of his last Rememberance Days at Malvern C.I. On this occasion he rants against the ceremony that took place at this time: "Content very different from ten years ago when we had assemblies with names of the fallen read, a hymn, and "Last Post" with live bugler and colour party laying of wreath. None of this today. Instead the emphasis was anti-war, talk against the war in Vietnam, war policy, "swords into ploughshares", United Nations, "In Flanders Field". John quotes Mayor Dennison as saying: "a nation that forgets its heroes is not one to be proud of."

Winter Rules

As serious as this was, it was not as reflective of the direction of society as "winter rules". "Winter rules" refers to the recently introduced informality of allowing golfers to adjust (improve) the lie of their ball as it came to sit on the ground --when playing outside the regular golf season. By this day, 11 Novemeber, anyone John played with insisted on Winter Rules. This got John very upset. He saw "playing the ball as it lies" as a fundamental moral absolute. The rules strictly state that one is not allowed to touch one's ball at all. This was the dignified way the game was meant to be played. To do otherwise was to dishonourably cheat in such a way as to be a disrespectful affront not only to one's golf partners but to the game itself. More than this, it was the foundation of a civil society. All manner of perversions, permissiveness, and promiscuity would follow people cheating by improving their lie. A man who improved his lie was not a "man". If someone were to do this, then there is nothing that he would not do. This was not someone that could be trusted. And golf was a game of honour. Where does it all end? John knew that the answer to this question was the complete collapse of civilization.

17.2 Golf and Membership in Scarborough Golf and C. C.

John lived for golf. It was individualistic. He often complained about having to play with other people. He often advised that the game was about "you and the course --not between you and the other players". And there was something about being an individual out in a forest-like environment. And the dominant tree type at Scarboro golf course, and many golf courses: was the Oak.

Golf Tournaments

Just about every summer, John would go to (at least) the Canadian Open, and more often than not, also go to the U.S. Open and/or PGA. Sometimes he would take sons and/or friends. For example, 12-17 July, 1965, John took son Bern, friend Graham, Graham's father (Rich Anthony), and myself to the Canadian Open at Missisauga.

Golf with Dale Mackness

During the 1960s, John also like to golf with Dale Mackness, Murray's only son. Some matches in the mid-1960s were recorded in John's diaries are particularly noteworthy. Dale was an excellent golfer.

Scarborough Golf and C. C. Membership

It was back in 1960 that the great moment for John had finally come and he had been accepted as a member into the prestigious Scarborough Golf and Country Club. It is located about six miles to the East of home (see map below). By the mid-1960s, this had become not only his favourite club to play, but virtually the only club he was interested in playing. And golf was the only thing he was interested in doing.

The clubhouse is a stunning piece of early 20th century architecture with reminiscences of Scottish clubhouses (see right).

Scarboro Golf and C.C. is one of the older courses in the GTA. Opened in 1912 and designed by A.W. Tillinghast, it is a traditional old course with lightning fast greens and the trademark Tillinghast hump in from of the greens. This hump traps balls if the golfer attempts a bump-and-run under suspicious circumstances. The greens are superb. They roll true and very fast. They are all sloped back to front to receive balls and facilitate drainage.

Other famous Tillinghast courses include Baltusrol and Winged Foot. This is the only Tillinghast course in Canada. In the early 1960s, the course hosted the Canadian Open.

Hole 1:

576 yards, out of bounds on right.
par 5

Hole 2:

213 yards, woods on right.
par 3

Hole 3:

342 yards to an uphill green, woods on right.
par 4

Hole 4:
From the elevated tee, it is 205 yards to the hole. It is considered by some to be the signature hole of the course. The par three has woods on the left and Highland Creek on the right. Arnold Palmer said that this hole would be a charmer on any golf course in the world.

Hole 5:

439 yards, over creek, woods on right.
par 4

Hole 6:

560 yards, over creek, creek on left, woods on right.
par 5

Hole 7:

276 yards, creek on right.
par 4

Hole 8:

413 yards over creek and over large hill.
par 4

Hole 9:

402 yards over gully.
par 4
site of the famous "Eagle of the Ninth" 10 October, 1965, when John holed out with four iron from the right rough 170 yard from the hole.

Hole 10:

527 yards, out of bounds on left, dog-leg right.
par 5

Hole 11:

110 yards, heavily sand traped.
par 3

Hole 12:

416 yards, elevated tee, over creek twice, woods on left.
par 4

Hole 13:

417 yards, over creek, up hill to elevated green, out of bounds on left.
par 4

Hole 14:

212 yards, from elevated tee, woods on left.
par 3

Hole 15:

320 yards, all up hill to elevated green.
par 4

Hole 16:

284 yards, over gully, woods on left.
par 4

Hole 17:

379 yards, elevated tee, over creek twice, woods on left, dog-leg left.
par 4

Hole 18:
As a result of it being an urban course, Scarboro has some unusual holes. 18 is a 435 yard (par 4) features not only going over the creek, but also over Scarborough Golf Club Road. It is also up hill to the elevated green.

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17.3 Son Ron and His Golf
(1958 - 1963)

It was in 195_ that a family traditon started. Namely "Father and Son" tournaments, as they were called in those days. To be more inclusive, in the 1970s they would come to be called "Parent and Child" tournaments.

Ron stops Golfing, 1963

Ron stopped golfing around 1963. For Ron, there was life after golf. He married Susan Miller Dodds on 16 March, 1968, at Parkwoods United Church.

17.4 Son Bern and His Golf
(1962 - 1967)

In the early 1970s, Bern was working as a probation officer. It seemed that there was a distinct point in time when the torch was passed from Ron to Bern. This precise moment was the Ontario Golf Association "Father and Son" golf tournament, when Bern played rather than Ron. Once this happened, Ron's star was dimming and Bern ascending. This meant that Bern took over the family's second set of clubs, recieved attention, and was drilled more often in preparation.

Like Ron before him, Bern also played in Junior tournaments. 9 June, 1965 Bern shot a 107.

On 6 August, 1965, John and Bern played at the London Hunt Club in the OGA "Parent-Child Tournament". Later, at the Scarboro "Father and Son" tournament on 18 September, 1965, John and Bern shot 100.

17.5 Teaching, Running the Malvern Library, OSSTF

By the end of this period, when John would retire, he would be teaching continuously since 1934 --uninterupted work --except for the war years. He took virtually no days off sick. He never took any leaves of absence. And he was never late for work. Ever. Before 1965 he was teaching mostly English. 1965 represents a sea change, however, because starting this year and until his retirement, John's teaching assignment was full-time in the library.

Running Malvern C.I. Library

Student Assistants in the Library
Each week, the library could hire forty hours worth of student assistants. This work was distributed between two student assistants. In the late 1960s they were Janet Bull and Pat Green. They graduated just as I started Malvern, and I took over this work.

The "G incident" of January 1971.

OSSTF and the November, 1972, Mass Resignation

16 November, 1972, John notes that they had an OSSTF meeting at Malvern during which the mass resignation proceedures were explained. The deadline was 23 Novemeber, 1972, and so a mass meeting was scheduled for the 22nd. Malvern teachers, however, held a vote, starting on 17 November. By the 20th the voting was all done. Malvern teachers voted 70% "Yes" in regards to a promisary note to resign. John sided with the 30% "NO" vote. He records his opinion in his diary that he does not think that mass resignations are legal. He refers to the idea as a "conspiracy". On the morning of 22 November all secondary school teachers in the seven Metro boards recieved a letter signed by all seven Metro board chairmen. It stated that if the teachers proceeded with their threat to resign en masse, then it would be a "catastrophe". That day, the "Toronto Star" (section 3, page 37) ran the headline: "Teachers Warned of Resignation Catastrophe". The "Globe and Mail" editorial referred to it as "ancient".

The evening of 22 November, 1972, there was a mass ralley held at U of T's Convocation Hall. Despite the strong words, the majority of teachers did not vote in favour of the strategy of mass resignation. The 27 November, 1972, "Toronto Star" front page headline read: "Teachers Won't Quit --Metro Negotiators Lose 'Big Weapon'".

OSSTF Negotiations, 1973

On 14 May, 1973, teachers marched on mass to Queen's Park. John was very uncomfortable about such demonstrations of militancy.

Even though John had retired 30 June, 1973, he followed the developments with the OSSTF. 12 November, 1973, John notes in his diary: "OSSTF serious about resigning at end of the month. We hear it is 90% in Metro." He is refering to the use of mass resignation by teachers as a bargaining tactic, since strikes were not legal.

On 10 December, 1973, the conservative provincial government passed Bill 274 Compulsory Arbitration. This law ordered teachers back to work. The teachers responded the next day by storming the legislature --11 December, 1973.

An event that upset John very much was the major strike by OSSTF 12 November, 1975 to ________ (see Chapter 18, section __).

17.6 Esther Fletcher 1960s

In his diary entries for 12 November, John always made reference to doing something nice on this day --Esther's birthday. We would go together on some small present --chocolates, plants, etc.

17.7 Senior Golf Tournaments
and Related Trips 1:
Halifax (1967)

The RCGA Seniors Tournaments

John took the annual Royal Canadian Golf Association Seniors' Tournament very seriously. This year it was the RCGA's tenth, and this was to be his first. There were several other Seniors' Tournaments, the Scarboro golf club senionrs, the Ontario Golf Association (OGA) Seniors' Tournament, etc. --but the big one was the RCGA, which he called simply "The Seniors'".

The 1968 Seniors in Halifax

In July, John and Esther, with sons Bern and myself (David), drove to Halifax in the powder-blue 1960 Chevy to play in the RCGA annual seniors' tournament. This year it was at the Ashburn Golf Course just West of Halifax.

The Plugged Ball Incident
During the last round of the tournament an incident on the eleventh hole became infamous in Fletcher family history. I was caddying that day, having taken over from Bern since the second round. It was an elevated tee and it had rained that morning. The ground was still wet and angry. Dad's tee shot was not bad, but we lost sight of it. It was approximately a few yards into the rough on the left. As we found out later, the ball had become plugged on impact. That is, that it had sunk several inches below the surface. When we reached the spot where we thought it should be, we were surprised we could not find it.

The "Five Minutes Maximum" Rule
The rules require no more than five minutes for a search. This maximum time allowed passed quickly. When this time had expired, with no luck, the other's in John's foursome insisted that he make the long climb to return to the tee and shoot again. John was in denial. This could not be happening. We were bound to find it any second. John increasingly recognized the others as the devil incarnate. They became impatient and insistant. John told them what he thought of them, their parents, their grandparents, where they should go, and what they should do.

Catastrophe
Suffice it to say that John did re-tee and finish the round without another word spoken. He, of course, played terribly from then on, and ended up ruining what could have been his best round. As soon as we finished at the eighteenth, John and I returned to the eleventh to find the ball --as if this would be some sort of vindication. When we finally found it after one hour, John felt that the ball, therefore, was by definition not "really" lost. He had merely been the victim of an unjust rule and the heartless knit-picking of his cut-throat, demon-possessed, English competitors. This was the 21st of July, and we spead away from the course, missing the closing ceremonies, and sped away from Halifax. By the 24th we arrived at our relative's (Grace) home in Dorval.

Date:	Round	Score:
18 July, 1967	practice	85
19 July, 1967	first	85
20 July, 1967	second	78
21 July, 1967	third	80

Montreal, August, 1967

After leaving Halifax quickly, we drove to Montreal and visited with Grace. One incident at this time occured while parallel parking in Montreal on an inclined street. John and I were getting something out of the trunk when the car behind us suddenly moved forward. We were parked tight together in the first place, and when he moved forward the bumper caught John at the knee level. He was pinned between the two bumpers. I was able to jump out up onto our bumper and put my hands on this guy's hood pushing against it. All I could think of was what a mess it would be if Dad's legs were injured. I was thinking primarily about his golf game. Anyways, as it turned out John was not seriously injured. I seems what had happened was the guy thought he was in reverse, but instead went forward. At least that is what he said. Expo 67
While in Montreal, we all visited the World Exhibition, called Expo 67. This seems to have had much more of an impact on me, than on John, and so this shared experience is described only in my section --see Chapter 21, section 14.

Date:	17.7 Record of Sites seen on trip
July	left Toronto
July	Halifax
July	magnetic hill
July	Bay of Fundy
July	Expo 67
August	Montreal Mount Royal

The map below illustrates two of our family trips. On the left our Halifax-Montreal trip in 1967 (in the 1960 Chevrolet). And on the right our Saskatoon-Vail trip in 1968 (in the Ambassador).

Kidney Stones, 1967

It was soon after we returned we returned from the Halifax and Expo67 trip that John suffered from a kidney stone attack. On 16 September, 1967, John passed the stone and was okay for while, until the next attack.

17.8 Seniors Golf
and Related Trip 2:
Saskatoon (1968)

New Car: 1968 AMC Ambassador

In __ 1968, John and Esther bought a new 1968 AMC Ambassador. It would be this car which we would take on trips to Saskatoon-Colorado in August, 1968, and Victoria-California in July, 1972. This model is shown below:

John and Esther celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with a party in Chatham on 30 Dec. 1968.

In December 1969, John, Esther, and David drove South to the home of Esther's sister, Eileen. She lived in Bradenton, Florida, with her husband Joe Ploick (born 1920) and son Joey (born 1950). Sister Marj and her husband, Jack Jordan, also drove down and met at Eileen's. Eileen had a wonderful orange tree in the backyard and we enjoyed eating them fresh-picked from the tree.

On the way back North we saw Titus, Cape Kenedy, Sebring, Daytona Beach and the Augusta National course.

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17.9 Son David (Me) and Golf
(1965 - 1973)

There were a number of milestones which were in the Fletcher family considered to be turning points. The first was one's first par. John records that this had been achieved by David on the 11th at Scarboro on 26 June, 1964. The second turning point was one's first complete round of golf (in 171). This was at Westview, 29 June, 1965. My first competitive tournament round was one week later, when both Bern and I played in the Ontario Juniors' qualifying round. It was at Weston, Bern shot 107 and I shot 153.

My coming of age in the family golf world was my first Father and Son golf tournament. When Bern no longer wanted to golf, I took over. This meant that the family second set of clubs came into my care, I went with Dad practicing more than did Bern, and I became the focus of Dad's golf ambitions.

Upon turning 14, the minimum age, I joined Scarboro G and C.C. the summer of 1969 was my first serious playing full-time. I played and practiced every day during July and August literally from dawn to dusk. At the start of July I was shooting 120, by August I was breaking 100. But the turning point was considered 90. To break 90 required a certain skill and concentration. The goal was to accomplish this before school started again.

In John's diary, he makes a big thing of my first time breaking 90, on 7 September, 1969. For most courses, breaking 90 is not a huge thing, but Scarboro is a Championship course, and we played from the "blues". These are the tees furthest back, and so each hole is the longest. The total yardage "from the blues" at Scarboro is 6,772 yards. That day I was "out" in 45 and back "in" in 44 for a total of 18 over par 89 (ie. average of a bogie on each hole). The diary entry included all details: in the creek on 4 (the long par 3 with the elevated tee); sank an 8 footer for a birdie on 7 (the short par 4). He also details weak shots, such as into the woods on # 17, and concludes that without a couple of costly bad shots I could have easily been 85. He complemented my putting: no three putts at all, five one-putts (total 32 putts). It seems my short game was better than my long game. That day I only hit two greens.

My handicap in 1969 was __. My best ten differentials totaled 289.

The first full round of golf in which I beat John was 10 May, 1971, with my 87 better than his 90.

On the 17th of June, 1972, John recorded that I shot a great round of 76.

One high point in my golf career was an eagle on the sixth hole at Scarborough on 31 Aug. 1972. Two unremarkable shots left me still 250 yards from the green on this long par 5. My 5 wood shot bounced far in front of the green a couple of times before rolling onto the green. The ball must have struck the pin dead centre because rather than bouncing off it died and dropped.

One of the highlights of each year was the Parent-Child Tournament. On 17 September, 1972, John and David played in the Scarboro golf club in 80 for the annual Parent-Child Tournament.

6 July, 1973, John drove me to play in the Ontario Juniors Tournament at Port Colborne. We were joined by Dave Deasley, Lane White, and Tom Hodgins --all fellow Malvern students.

Later that week (10 July, 1973 --which was Bern's birthday) I shot a 75 from the "Championship" blue tees at Scarboro.

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Date: 17.9 Record of Golf scores at Golf Clubs

4 July, 1967 87 at Dentonia (Scarboro)

7 Sept, 1969 89 at Scarboro G and C C with John Fletcher

16 June, 1970 93 at Scarboro G and C C with Scott Laird

10 May, 1972 87 at Scarboro G and C C with John (90)

18 June, 1972 76 at Scarboro G and C C

30 June, 1972 82 at Donalda (Don Mills) in Ont Golfing Assoc. Junior Tournament

17.10 Coaching the Malvern Golf Team

Each year, John would coach the Malvern golf team. The greatest golfer to come out of this coaching was Paul Davis, who went on to win a golf scholarship in the U.S. But I was a close second. Under my leadership the team won four Toronto championships, called T.S.S.A.A. tournaments. On 5 Oct. 1972 we beat all other Toronto teams. With the second place team, Forest Hill, we went on to the Ontario final.

It was while driving to Westview Golf Club for a school match that John and the Malvern golf team listened on the radio to the play-by-play of the seventh game of the Team Canada versu Russia series. Henderson game winning goal in the third period kept Canada in contention to win the series.

5 October, 1972, the Malvern golf team (myself, Dave Deasley, Chris Tancock, and Brian Davies) won the TSSAA final, earning the team a spot at the Ontario final. 13 October, 1972, John took the Malvern golf team to Hamilton to play the Ancaster course.

One of the pleasant tasks associated with this role, was to make a speech at the annual Athletic Banquet. Every year, John took pride in being able to congratulate the golf team on doing so well. Most years, Malvern, under John's leadership, won the Toronto final. His last year coaching (and teaching) was the fall of 1973. That 17 October we won the TSSAA final again.

Speech by John Fletcher at the School Athletic Assembly, 7 March, 1973
Mr. Wilson, Mr. Hogarth, and students of Malvern;
Winning this tropy required the co-operative efforts of all these six boys. While this team finally had to narrow down to four players for the finals at Westview, all boys contributed to the overall results in the various league matches. I am making special reference now to our two highly qualified back-up men: Bill Forsyth and Drew Bennett. We appreciate their services.
At the final tournament at Westview our four Malvern golfers all placed among the top five finishers. Low scorer and medalist was Dave Deasley at 81, three strokes better than Steve Mark of Lawrence Park. The next three best golfers were Brian Davies, 85, David Fletcher and Chris Tancock -86 each.
I expect great things of these boys in the future. Who knows, perhaps someone will follow in the footsteps of Paul Davis, now making quite a name for himself at Ohio State.
It has been a pleasure working with this fine golf team. And now, Mr. Hogarth, would you present these four boys with their "T"s: Dave Deasley, Brian Davies, David Fletcher, and Chris Tancock. And now, Dave Deasley, will you present to Mr. Hogarth and the school, the Pepsi T.S.S.A.A. golf trophy for 1972. Thank you

John, during his last year before retirement, agonized over finding a staff member to replace him as Malvern golf team coach. Mike Gendron took over, and with him the team also won the 1973 T.S.S.A.A. tournament. At the Toronto final on 17 October, 1973, I led the field with my 84. My teammates were Dave Deasley (86), Chris Tancock (86), and Brian Pearson (101).

17.11 Politics, Society, and Culture: 1965 - 1973

Moonlanding, 1969

A significant event, as John figured, was the Apolo moonlanding of 20 July, 1969.

Hockey

The Fall of 1972 was dominated by the Canada-Russia hockey series. John watched it -- even during school hours (in the Malvern staff room). The seventh game (26 September, 1972) we were all together in the car (John, me, and the other members of the Malvern golf team) on the way to Westview to play a match. We heard about Henderson scoring the winning goal. This made the eigth and final game in Moscow all the more exciting. The series was tied at three victories each and one tie. With 34 seconds left in the final period, score tied 5 to 5, Henderson scored again to win the game and the series. John attended the welcome home ceremonies with son David (me) on 1 October at Nathan Philips Square.

At this time, John was a fan of sports writer and local hero Ted Reeve. Ted had been a lacrosse and football player, and wrote a column for "The Telegram" regularly from 1928 to 1976.

This period, John and Esther did not attend many cultural events such as films. One they went to, at my urging, which particularly disappointed them was Kubric's "2001, A Space Odyssey".

Kent State Shootings

17.12 Trips

In addition to the major trips, described elsewhere (Halifax in 1967, Saskatoon in 1968, and California in 1972) there were a number of shorter trips.

In 1969 John, Esther, and David spent Christmas and New Years in Florida with Eileen. There were two trips Washington, the first in late March, 1969; and the second, 1970.

17.13 Life and Death on Beaufort Road

Deaths

There were many deaths on Beaufort Road during this period. Some are included in the table below:

Date:	Name:	Address:
1972	Mrs Blakely	44 Beaufort Rd.
15 March, 1973	Steve Lang	67 Beaufort Rd.
7 Sept. 1973	John Carter	killed in front of 65 Beaufort Rd.
24 Sept. 1973	Richard (Rich) Anthony	48 Beaufort Rd.
14 September, 1974	Patricia (Patty) Ann Hughes-Edmunds	53 Beaufort Rd.
30 April, 1975	Sylvia Perkins	52 Beaufort Rd.
16 March, 1976	Reynold Perkins	52 Beaufort Rd.

17.14 John's Parents:
Move to Thamesview Lodge and Pass On

The photo below shows, from left to right: _______ and ________; Ada Cullingham and Jim Fletcher in about 1970.

But by 197_ Jim and Ada were less and less capable of taking care of themselves in their home on _________ St. in Tilbury. In the winter of 197_ John, Arch, and Marj agreed that their parents, Jim and Ada, would have to go into a home --even against their will. They decided upon the closest home, which was in Chatham. Their father, Jim, was willing to go into a home, but only if there was one in Tilbury --which there was not. And so, Jim refused to go to the Chatham home. Despite Jim's objections, Ada and Jim were moved into the Thamesview Lodge in Chatham, on _________ 197_.

John notes in his diary on 30 January, 1972, that Jim was not himself. "He is losing speech coherence."

The Fletcher family attended Jim's 94 birthday celebration 15 April, 1972 at Thamesview Lodge. The next day, the family sat around the Jordan's new colour television set to watch the Apollow 16 launch. It was upon the family's return to Toronto, that they discovered that David's pet guinea pig, Lee, had died.
John was expecting his father's death, and one evidence is an entry in his journal at the end of June. He wrote: "Marjorie phoned to say that Dad was failing...the end was near."
We made preparations, and left Toronto for Chatham 1 July, 1972. But by the time we arrived Jim was already dead. We arrived in the evening, and the next morning John, Arch, and Marjorie went to Hornick's to make funeral arrangements. Mom and the three boys stayed with grandma Ada at Thamesview Lodge. The pall bearers were grandchildren (Arch's) Jim and Bill; (Marjorie's)John and George; and (John's) Ron and Bern. John recorded that it was a large funeral --despite Jim's advanced age. Those who came included Fred Miller (90), Edna Morden, and many others --reflective of how well-liked Jim was in his community.

This made the celebration, a few months later, of mother Ada's birthday, on 10 September, 1972, less happy. Nevertheless, All the children (John, Arch, Marjorie) were there to mark the occasion in Arch's home in Mitchell. Many grandchildren were there too, including John, George, Jimmy, Liz, Billie, and myself. Ada sang many of her favourite songs, including: "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", "Sing Sing Birds on the Wing". At this time, John Jordan taped an interview with Ada.

Jim and Ada's last years are described in Chapter 9, and Ada's last years as a widow are described in Chapter 10.

The life of James A Fletcher reflects the same dominant patterns as the Jacobite Highlanders from which he is a descendent. His was a story of tremendous starts, great inventions and business ventures, followed by disasterous endings, losses, and business failure. But ultimately tentative ponderings about "what could have been" are overpowered by the unquestionable fact that he and Ada brought into the world and raised several children and many of us owe our existance and at least of part of our personal characteristics to them and the Celtic Highland spirit which was passed on through them to us today.

John and Esther visited Ada 17 April, 1974. Afterwards they got together with the Macknesses, Murray and Frida, Shirley and Emma, at Clayt's in Chatham.

Again on 18 April, 1975, Ada was in good health.

Ada was stil in good health when visited on Modthers' Day 9 May, 1976. John records that his mother Ada suffered a bad fall 11 Sept. 1976.

17.15 Other Fletchers and Macknesses in the 1960s and 1970s

At the beginning of this period, the early 1960s, the Fletcher family appeared as below:

By the end of this period, the immediate family of John Fletcher appeared as in this photo from the mid 1970s (see right): Ron married Sue on _____, 1968. A daughter was born to them on 28 August, 1968. Laura would be their only child.

In 1971-72, Bern did his teacher training at the University of Toronto. He started practice teaching at Adam Beck in March, 1972. By the summertime, Bern had acquired a position to teach at a Native reserve at Lac La Croix. He left to take up this position on 26 August, 1972.

After teaching for two years up North, Bern was taken on by the Toronto Board of Education.

Bern lived out East by Guild Village until the Spring of 1978. He bought 71 Pickering Ave. and moved in 6 May, 1978. Doris and I lived with him that first year as tenents, until we bought 485 Manning Ave. and moved in there.

15 to 17 July, 1973, I drove John and Esther down to Chatham to visit Fletchers. We saw John's mother, Ada, at the Chatham Group Home. We stayed at the Jordans. Marjorie's older son, John, was doing radio broadcasts for the CBC at that time and we listened to his daily farm report. Younger son George and wife, Barbara, had just had their first child, Leigh Anne.

17 September, 1973, George Fletcher died. We all attended the funeral in Merlin, Ontario.

Helen (Cullingham) Hanson and Husband Al Hanson

Our only other (Fletcher family) relatives in Toronto were Grandmother Ada Cullingham's neice Helen and her husband Al Hanson. They had two children, Doug and Debbie. Doug married and had two daughters. Debbie married and had one son.

Macknesses

Gary and Rose Marie, lived in Toronto, and so had more contact with the Fletchers than most of the other Macknesses. They had three children, Mathew, Lorraine, and Caroline.

17.16 Construction of the "Golf Pit" in Basement (1972)

The year 1972 started with a bad note: more problems with kidney stones. In February, Tom Wells, the Ontario Minister of Education came to Malvern C.I. and gave a speech in which he recalled the 1947 teachers strike. Early in the winter of 1972 John spent $4,800. on renovations to the basement of 51 Beaufort Road by "Remodel Construction". For this money, they dug 1 meter down a 2 by 4 meter section of the floor, and put up paneled walls around this "golf pit".

The Fall of 1972 was dominated by the Canada-Russia Hockey series. The high point was Paul Henderson's great goal, 26 September.

17.17 Senior Golf Tournaments
and Related Trips
3: Victoria (1972)

Trip West

John, Esther, and I set out on 16 July, 1972, in the Ambassador. This would be the biggest car trip any of us would ever take. On the way to the West coast, we stopped at Banff and played the Banff Springs course. Saw Lake Louise, and continued north to Jasper. Arrived in Victoria on the evening of 21 July, 1972. I had taken my bicycle with us, and spent several days riding around the Victoria area.

Left Canada, heading south into Washington State, 29 July.

Date: Location / Sites:
16 July Marathon, Ont.
17 July Portage La Prairie
18 July Calgary, Alberta

19 July Jasper, Banff
20 July golfed at Banff Springs, Kamloops, B.C.
21 July Vancouver, ferry to Victoria
22 July Victoria
23-28 Uplands Golf Course for Seniors Tournament
28 July third round, then on to Olympia, Washington
29 July Oregon, Redwoods National Park, Klamath
30 July Richardson's Grove, Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco
31 July played Pebble Beach, Carmel, Big Sur, Merced (inland)
1 August Yosemite National Park, Olancha, Death Valley, Los Vegas
2 August Grand Canyon, Arcosanti, Holbrook, Arizona
3 August Painted Desert, Weatherfork, Oklahoma
4 August National Cowboy Hll of Fame, Oklahoma City, St. Louis
5 August Indianapolis, visited Hazel at Royal Oak, Detroit
6 August back home in Toronto

17.18 Last Year of Teaching: 1972 - 1973

OSSTF

The Windsor District of OSSTF was a focal point that year. January, 1973, all Windsor schools were closed due to the mass resignation of OSSTF teachers.

IllustratedChronology of ThreeGenerationsJohn G. Fletcher Chapter 17: 1965 to 1973