|
Our fall reunion, held this year in Brockville, proved to be a very successful, yet emotional time for all who attended.
The Saturday afternoon program was set aside for the business portion of our weekend. Gerald Lee, Bill Dunbar, Phil Robinson, and Martin Cawley of Quarriers gave presentations on Quarriers past and present.
Another notable speaker that afternoon was Myrtle Johnston of the Leeds and Grenville Genealogy Society.
The last item of the afternoon's program was the interviews with the original Quarriers children in attendance. We were honoured to have John Thomson, John Keir, Peter Graham, Jim Gourlay, Hugh Blair and first-time attendee Kate Wilson take part.
After a delicious buffet dinner of traditional Scottish dishes, the ceilidh began, which allowed many of us to work off our supper.
The Sunday portion of the program began with a moving Remembrance Day service at the First Presbyterian Church. Reverend Jones had worked with us very closely to come up with a service that met, and even exceeded, everyone's expectations.
Bill Dunbar took part in the service by reading a passage out of the Bible and by reading a certificate presented to my father, Robert A. Robertson, by the City of Brockville at the end of World War II.
Fred Wardle spoke to the congregation and told the Quarrier story.
After the church service we held our own informal memorial service at the grave of the Quarriers children who died once in Canada, and in the Old Protestant Cemetery just west of Brockville.
A self-guided tour for anyone interested to Fairknowe Home marked the end of a very successful weekend.