Act 26

The Newfoundlanders

The story of the Farndales who settled in Newfoundland

In 1910 John Martin and Bessie Farndale emigrated to Newfoundland and established a grocery business in St John’s. His son joined the Artillery in World War 2 and lived to be the oldest Farndale.

I am very grateful to John and Bessie’s grandchildren, Ramón Keith Farndale and David Graham Farndale, who helped me to tell the story of the Newfoundlanders.

The Newfoundland Podcast This is a new experiment. Using Google’s Notebook LM, listen to an AI powered podcast summarising this page. This should only be treated as an introduction, and the AI generation sometimes gets the nuance a bit wrong. However it does provide an introduction to the themes of this page, which are dealt with in more depth below. Listen to the podcast for an overview, but it doesn’t replace the text below, which provides the accurate historical record.

Newfoundland Troops arrive in Newfoundland Pathe film of Newfoundlanders arriving in Britain to serve in World War 2

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Scene 1 - St John’s

John Martin and Bessie Farndale arrived in Newfoundland shortly after they were married in 1910. John was a grocer and he became manager of a grocery department in St John’s in eastern Newfoundland by 1935. Their sons, Raymond William Stainthorpe Farndale (1914 to 2016) and Bertram Farndale were born in Newfoundland in 1914 and 1919, the Newfoundland Line.

Nova Scotia and Newfoundland Newfoundland Nova Scotia

St John's was used by fishermen setting up seasonal camps in the early 1500s. Sebastian Cabot claimed that St John's earned its name when he and his father, the Venetian explorer John Cabot, in the service of England, became the first Europeans to sail into the harbour, on the morning of 24 June 1494, the feast day of Saint John the Baptist. However the earliest record of the location appeared as São João on a Portuguese map by Pedro Reinel in 1519. When the English mariner John Rut visited St John's in 1527, he found Norman, Breton and Portuguese ships in the harbour. On 3 August 1527, Rut wrote a letter to King Henry on the findings of his voyage to North America and this was the first known letter sent from North America. A series of expeditions to St John's by Portuguese explorers from the Azores followed in the early sixteenth century, and by 1540, French, Spanish and Portuguese ships crossed the Atlantic every year to fish the waters off the Avalon Peninsula.

On 5 August 1583, an English Sea Dog, Sir Humphrey Gilbert, claimed the area as England's first overseas colony under Royal Charter of Queen Elizabeth I. There was no permanent population, however, and Gilbert was lost at sea during his return voyage, ending any immediate plans for settlement. By 1620, the fishermen of England's West Country controlled most of Newfoundland's east coast. In 1627, William Payne, called St John's the principal prime and chief lot in all the whole country.

In about 1630, the town of St John's was established as a permanent settlement. Before this, English fishermen were forbidden by the English government from establishing permanent settlements along the English controlled coast. The town's first significant defences were erected to protect new commercial interests, after St John's had been temporarily seized by the Dutch admiral Michiel de Ruyter in June 1665. The inhabitants of St John’s resisted a second Dutch attack in 1673, led by an English merchant captain, Christopher Martin. Martin landed six cannons from his vessel, the Elias Andrews, and built an earthen breastwork and battery near Chain Rock commanding the Narrows leading into the harbour. With only 23 men, the Martin beat off an attack by three Dutch warships.

The population grew slowly in the seventeenth century. St John's was Newfoundland's largest settlement when English naval officers began to take censuses from about 1675. The population grew in the summer time with the arrival of migratory fishermen. In 1680, fishing ships mostly from South Devon set up fishing rooms at St John's, bringing hundreds of Irishmen into the port to operate inshore fishing boats.

The English government planned to expand the fortifications of Fort William in around 1689, but construction did not begin until after the French admiral Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville captured and destroyed the town in the Avalon Peninsula Campaign in 1696. When 1,500 English reinforcements arrived in late 1697, they found rubble where the town and fortifications had stood. The French attacked St John's again in 1705, the Siege of St John's, and captured it in 1708, the Battle of St. John's, devastating civilian structures with fire on each instance.

The harbour remained fortified through most of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The final battle of the Seven Years' War in North America was fought in 1762, in St. John's. Following a surprise capture of the town by the French early in the year, the British responded and, at the Battle of Signal Hill, the French surrendered St John's to British forces under the command of Colonel William Amherst.

On 24 April 1800, the United Irish Uprising was a mutiny by nineteen Irish soldiers who were part of the British garrison stationed in Newfoundland. The mutineers, who were suspected to be members of the Society of United Irishmen, fled to the countryside after the mutiny failed, and were apprehended in a matter of weeks and court-martialled. Of the seventeen mutineers captured, eight were executed, four were let go while five were sentenced to penal transportation.

The eighteenth century saw population growth, the beginnings of a government, establishment of churches, reinforcement of commercial ties with North America and development of the seal, salmon and Grand Banks fisheries. St John’s was primarily a fishing station, but also a garrison, a centre of government and a commercial hub. St John's served as a naval base during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. A Great Fire of 1892 destroyed a significant portion of the city.

Guglielmo Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless signal in St John's on 12 December 1901 from his wireless station in Poldhu, Cornwall. St John's was the starting point for the first non-stop transatlantic aircraft flight, by Alcock and Brown in a modified Vickers Vimy IV bomber, in June 1919, departing from Lester's Field in St John's and ending in a bog near Clifden, Connemara, Ireland.

After settling in St John’s, John worked as a grocery manager. Raymond later recalled I was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland on February 23, 1914. My parents, John and Bessie Farndale, immigrated to Newfoundland in 1910. My father was employed by The Royal Stores Ltd as Grocery Department Manager. We were the only family of Farndales in Newfoundland. The family has been traced back to about 1280. I have records going back to 1760, when William Farndale was born in Brotton, Yorkshire. He was my great-great-great Grandfather, dying in 1846 at the age of eighty-six. My family’s first home was at 24 Cochrane Street, where we lived for about four years. I was baptized on June 11, 1914 by Reverend A. Clayton. I was confirmed on January 27, 1929 by Canon A. H. Hewitt.

John Martin Farndale

1886 to 1966

The grocer who emigrated to Newfoundland

Remembering his life from the perspective of his eighty eighth birthday, Raymond continued his recollections of this time. We then moved to 35 Cochrane Street. My brother Bertram was born July 24th, 1919. My recollections of these early years are quite “sketchy” but I do remember some of the neighbours, including the Carnells, Oakes, Ryans , Edwards, Days. As well, I recall spending summers with the Gladneys in Freshwater Valley. They owned and operated a small farm, complete with horses, cows, pigs and chicken. Paddy Gladney drove a “horse and carriage,” the fore-runner of taxicabs. Bertram and I were both baptized in St. Thomas’ Church, which dates back to 1699. The building I remember was built in 1836. In the late summer of 1919 I contracted Scarlet Fever, which was a very contagious disease in those days. This prevented me from starting school in September. I did not enrol until September 1920. To sum up, the first six years of my life were pleasant ones.

During the years leading up to my confirmation, I had become a fairly regular attendee at both Church and Sunday School. Sunday School classes were held on Sunday afternoons. The superintendent was Mr. H.Y. Mott. I can’t recall any of the teachers’ names. We were taught to memorize the Lords Prayer, the Apostles’ Creed and to understand the Ten Commandments, all part of the “Catechism.” At about age 12 I became a Bell Ringer. The Church had a set of bells, which were rung before every service for fifteen minutes. Services were held each Sunday at 8am, 11am and 6:30pm. There were about twelve bells of different sizes, each attached to ropes, making up an “octave.” In the bell tower, the ringers played hymns by following the “music” and pulling the ropes by numbers. I enjoyed the experience and became fairly proficient. In 1931 I had the best belfry record for that year, and received a prize. I was then seventeen, and I believe I discontinued my bell ringing shortly after that. I continued my membership in the church until 1938, when I moved to Corner Brook.

Raymond was educated at Bishop Feild College from 1920 to 1929. The school system in Newfoundland was denominational, operated by three main-line churches. The Church of England (which later became known as the Anglican church), operated several schools, including Bishop Feild College where I was educated. The curriculum was patterned after the English system. Only boys attended Bishop Feild. The girls has a separate school, named Bishop Spencer. There were six “forms,” some of them were divided into Upper and Lower. The Upper sixth is the final year, described as Junior Matriculation, which was roughly the equivalent to grade 11 in today’s Canadian system. There was no kindergarten, so I entered Form 1 in September 1920. I was a good student throughout my school years and received many prizes and awards,. In 1925 and 1927, I won the Knowling Scholarship for the best “all round boy,” determined by ballot of both the staff and the boys of each form. I took part in all school sports, but did not excel! Being smaller and somewhat younger than most of my class was a disadvantage. School sports were soccer, rugby, basketball and ice hockey. His close friends were Bert and Geoff Carnell, John Carnell, Frank and Joe Ryan.

In 1923, Bessy took the boys back to Yorkshire for an extended break from September 1923 to August 1924. In 1923, there was a break in my education, due to an extended trip to England. In July of 1923, my mother, Bertram and I left St. John’s for Liverpool, England by steamer. Dad stayed at home, and boarded with friends (the Moysts). We then travelled by train to Loftus, Yorkshire where we met Grandmother Stainthorpe and various aunts, uncles and cousins. I remember visiting my Uncle Herbert Stainthorpe in Redcar. He has a house full of canaries! We also visited some of the Farndale relatives in Guisborough, Northallerton, etc. In September we moved to Redcar, so that I could enroll in Coatham Grammar School. I adapted to school life fairly well , although I was somewhat lonely and didn’t make many friends. Most of the students were “boarders” whereas I was a “day student.” After two semesters I left Coatham in preparation for our return to Newfoundland in July of 1924. All in all the trip was a great experience, but we were glad to be home again.

They also stayed in Whitby. During his stay in England Raymond wrote in to a popular children’s column in a Yorkshire newspaper and in June 1924, Raymond won a prize for a letter which was published. Playful ‘Billy’. This is the first letter I have ever written to you. I have no pets to tell you about, but I will tell you about a cat that my auntie has. “Billy” is a playful cat. He sits up and boxes you, and if you jingle your money in your pockets he will jump up on your knee and try to get it out. I must now close (hoping to see it in print) and wishing you and your circle every successful stop I remain, yours truly, Raymond Farndale, Whitby. Perhaps this was a reference to his Aunt Hannah or Aunt Elizabeth.

The family returned to St John’s on the SS Digby of the Furness Line in August 1924. For the next year, they lived at 9 Bell Street, St John’s. Raymond recalled that on return in 1924, I entered Form 4 and followed the system through to 1929, when I graduated with a pass mark.

From 1925 to 1930 the family lived at 60 Prescott Street in St John’s.

Summers in Topsail. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, we spent entire summers in Topsail, Conception Bay – about twelve miles from St. John’s. Topsail was a lovely little village where many St. John’s families spent their summers. We boarded with a local family (the Butchers) and had commuted to St. John’s with various business people, including Anthony Tooton. My best friends were Russell and Graham Strong, as well as Tom Windsor and his brothers Stuart and Jack. It was there that I learned to swim. There was a three-mile stretch of rocky beach and the water was very cold. However, we had a lot of fun! We also spent much time exploring the nearby countryside, often picking berries, which were abundant. We enjoyed helping the farmers at “hay” time and we often played baseball in the hayfields.

Music. We always had a piano in our house. Mother was a trained singer and also played the piano quite well, although in quite an unorthodox manner. She read the music using “tonic sol fa” method, which I never could quite understand! At age 15 I started piano lessons, but after two different tutors, I gave up in despair. I then tried to master the Hawaiian Guitar by taking correspondence lessons. This lasted a few months, and ended in failure. I passed the guitar onto my brother. I did enjoy singing and spent many pleasant Sunday evenings at the home of Maisie and Betty Gunn, taking part in “sing-a-longs.” Also, whenever the opportunity arose I was always glad to add my voice to a group, singing some of the tunes of the day. I’ve always regretted that I did not study music. My inability to read the notes was a handicap in later years, when I joined church choirs in Corner Brook, New Glasgow and Halifax. I did have a very good “ear” and this enabled me to manage fairly well. In fact, in Halifax I even sang a solo at St. Peters.

Newfoundland did not have a university in 1929, so for those students wishing to continue their education it was necessary to spend two years at Memorial College (which later became Memorial University). A popular choice for university was McGill in Montreal. This was not an option for me, as the cost was prohibitive. Instead I enrolled in the Butler Business College in September. One month later, I took a job with Imperial Oil Ltd., as Junior Clerk in the main office on Water Street. The monthly salary was thirty-five dollars.

Friendships. One of my best friends in my class at school was Horace Rosenberg. He was also my rival in scholastic tests. We used to visit each others homes after school and play games. He was especially good at chess and tried to teach me (without much success). After 1929, he went on to Memorial College and later to McGill University in Montreal. He became a medical doctor. I saw him only twice since then, once in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1942 and once during a train trip from Corner Brook to St. Jonh’s in the late 1940’s. When I was about twelve years old, I developed a strong friendship with George Cook, who lives at 99 Bond Street. We spent many happy times together and I was in included in most of their family outings. Sadly, George died of cancer in 1960. Other friends were Clifton Gardner, Wilf Moore, George LeMessuner, Bliss Murphy, Arthur and Lawrence Wood and many others. Every Sunday afternoon a group of us would take long walks, either to Cabot Tower, the Southside, Cape Spear, Quidi Vidi Lakeor Cuckold Cove. I have lost touch with all of these friends now except Wilf Moore, who served with me in the 59th Regiment (Nfld) and whom I visited several times since them at Regimental reunions and once in St. John’s at the veterans wing of the General Hospital.

In 1929, Raymond was encouraged to repeat the year and apply for a scholarship, but instead I opted to start a business career. My first job was Junior Clerk with Imperial Oil Ltd. I started in mid-October of 1929. In September I had started a course at the Butler Business College. I found this interesting but quit to take the Imperial Oil job. My salary was $35.00 per month. I resigned in September 1930 to take a position with Tors Cove Trading Company Limited at $100.00 per month. I enjoyed my first job and left on good terms.

I joined this firm in October 1930, at a starting wage of $100.00 per month (about three times my previous salary!). The owners were Avalon and Will Goodridge, two very fine gentlemen. It was a pleasure to work for them. Their nephew Owen (also known as Peter) worked there and we became good friends. I also remember Will Strong, Hilda Diamond and Hilda Warford (later she married Joe Combden, and we met again in Toronto in 1960). In fact, she was Denise’s Godmother at her christening in 1962.

From 1930 to 1938, the family lived at 173 Gower Street, St John’s, in the East Ward. By 1935, John, then aged 49, was a manager with a grocery department.

Raymond remembered that my first vehicle was an Ariel motorcycle, 350 c.c., brand new and cost $350.00. I was very proud of this cycle and drove it often, generally accompanied by my best friend George Cook on the Pillion seat. On one occasion, when travelling along a country road (all the roads were country roads in that day!), a young pony on the edge of the road took fright and jumped towards us. A collision resulted and George and I were thrown from the bike. The pony ran away unharmed. Apart from a few bruises we were okay and were able to continue our journey.

In 1932, in order for me to better understand the markets, I took a trip on a freighter bound for the West Indies. I embarked on the M.V. Fagerbro in March of 1932. She was of Norwegian registry, 1500 tons gross. The itinerary was St. Pieree and Miquelon, Puerto Rico, Barbados and Martinique, returning via North Sydney, Montreal, Botwood and finally St. John’s. The return cargo was mainly molasses, in 50 gallon barrels. This was indeed a great experience.

The next year I bought a small car, an Austin Mini. In July 1933, I attended a tennis tournament in Harbour Grace and on the return trip had an unfortunate accident, this time a collision with a bridge. It was late at night and very foggy. I had two passengers, Jack Norris and Bill Harris. Jack injured his eye-lid, and it is permanently partially closed. There was a police investigation. I was cleared of any criminal responsibility and no charges were laid.

In 1934, I bought a 1929 Model “A” Ford 4-door Roadster and enjoyed this car without any mishaps. I sold this vehicle in the fall because winter storage was a problem. From then on I depended on others for transportation, primarily Maurice Devine. My next car was purchased after the war in 1946.

I resigned from Tors Cove Trading Company in 1937 to take a position with Bowaters Newfoundland Ltd. in St. John’s. Bowater Corporation were cutting trees for mine pit props and planning to buy corner brook paper mill from International Power and Paper Limited. This purchase took place in 1838, and Raymond was one of three people transferred to Corner Brook which became his next home. Raymond was appointed Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.

Bertram returned to Yorkshire an lived in Northallerton by the end of the 1930s, where he worked as an insurance agent. He too served in the Second World War, in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. He later settled in Harrogate.

During the Second World War, the harbour at St John’s supported Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy ships that were engaged in anti-submarine warfare. It was the site of an American Army Air Force base, Fort Pepperrell, that was established as part of the Lend-Lease Destroyers for Bases Agreement between the United Kingdom and United States. The base included several US-manned coast defence guns, and a Canadian-manned battery of two Lend-Lease 10-inch M1888 guns was at Fort Cape Spear.

John and Betsy returned to the UK in the 1950s initially to Guisborough and later to Southampton, where there son Bertram had settled.

Scene 2 – Corner Brook

Corner Brook is a city located on the west coast of Newfoundland on the Bay of Islands at the mouth of the Humber River. It became the second largest population centre after St John's. It remains the administrative headquarters of the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nations band government. The Mi'kmaq name for the nearby Humber River is Maqtukwek.

The area was surveyed by Captain James Cook in 1767, about a decade after James Cook was mate of the Friendship with John Farndale, a seaman of Whitby. The Captain James Cook Historic Site stands on Crow Hill overlooking the city. By the middle of the nineteenth century the population of Corner Brook was less than 100, and the inhabitants were engaged in fishing and lumber work.

Corner Brook became home to the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Mill, owned by Kruger Inc.

Pulp and paper industry, Corner Brook

Raymond was transferred to the Corner Brook mill. He was employed by Bowaters, Newfoundland Pulp and Paper Limited and he reported to General Manager H.M.S. “Monty” Lewin. He lived at Glynmill Inn, then a staff house for senior employees from 1838 to 1940 and then again after the war, from 1945 to 1946. In 1938, the Bowater organization, which had been operating in St. John’s for a couple of years, bought the Paper Mill from the International Power and Paper Company. I had joined the staff of Bowaters Newfoundland Limited in 1937 and was one of four people transferred to Corner Brook in October 1938. The others were Bruce Fraser, Jim Downing and Jack Lee. A new chapter in my life then began. I was twenty-four years of age. I took up residence in the Glynmill Inn, where the guests were mainly company personnel. Room and board cost me $35.00 a month. I was assigned to the Accounts Department and the other transferees went to the Woods Department. I adapted quickly to my new life in Corner Brook. I joined various sports clubs, and took part in badminton, tennis, bowling, skating and skiing. My closest friends were Austin Purchase, Howard Humber, George Gullage, and Alan Goodridge, all of whom are now deceased.

Raymond served in 59th (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery during the Second World War and we will return to his military service in Act 32.

He returned to Corner Brook in October 1945. On 1 June 1946 he married Maud Ellen Tipple in the United Church.

Raymond sang in the choir of, and taught Sunday School, of the Anglican Church of St John the Evangelist in Corner Brook.

From 1946 to 1954 her was employed by the Newfoundland Distributors Limited (West Park Motors), Corner Brook. In 1946, Ray left Bowater to become Accountant, and then General Manager, West Park Motors. At first they were the Newfoundland distributor for Bombardier snowmobiles, and later, after Confederation, became a Ford dealership. From 1946, they lived at 22 North Street, Corner Brook.

During his time in Corner Brook, Ray was an active member of the Corner Brook Players amateur theatrical group. He was also an officer in the badminton club and various other clubs and Secretary-Treasurer of Blomidon Club which later became the Blomidon Country Club after developing a golf course and curling rink.

On 5 October 1948, he arrived in Norfolk, Virginia, on a round trip, with his wife, Ellen. On SS Cornerbrook, First Class, Raymond and Ellen Farndale, together making a ‘round trip by this steamer’.

From 1949 to 1950 they lived at 54 Humber Park, Corner Brook. Their son, Keith Raymond William Stainthorpe Farndale was born in 1950. From 1951 to 1954, they lived at 57 Elswick Road, Corner Brook and Raymond worked for West Park Motors at Hal House who were appointed Dealership for Ford Motor Company. He remembered his friends from that time, the Pooles, Bouzannes, Purchases, Andrews, and Humbers, among others. From 1954-1959 he was employed by Corner Brook Garage Limited and in 1955 he was Office Manager at Corner Brook Garage Limited, the General Motors dealer. The family lived at 34 Reid Street from 1957 to 1959.

Scene 3 – Nova Scotia

In 1959, Raymond’s family moved to New Glasgow in Nova Scotia, where they lived on Birch Street until 1961. Raymond was employed by the Pontiac dealership, Spencer Motors.

Having resigned my position with Corner Brook Garage in the summer of 1959, we packed our belongings and moved to New Glasgow in November to take up employment with Spencer Motors Ltd., a Pontiac dealership. It had great potential in the automotive field but was in need of some accounting skills to keep it profitable. Bing Spencer, the owner/manager was a very personable fellow and had been in business for about ten years. The early years were very profitable but he was inclined to branch out into other fields such as an apartment building in Trenton, a Trucking company, a service station in Guysboro and one in the Magdalin Islands. A large part of the profits from the main business was used to finance these ventures, none of which became profitable. In fact, most recorded losses. We adapted to life in Pictou County very well. We made many friends and became members of the gold club, bowling club and Lions club. We stayed at the Norfolk Hotel for a short while, until a house became available in Stellarton which we rented furnished for $75.00 per month. Our immediate neighbours were the MacKeans, the McEacherns, the Arthurs and the Buckles and we soon became friends.

In the Spring of 1960, we decided to purchase a home in New Glasgow – a fairly new home on Birch Street (cost $11 000). We had bought a new car before we left Corner Brook, a prink Cortina. I as provided with a new car as part of my employment package, so the Cortina became Ellie’s car. I enjoyed the challenge of trying to keep Spencer Motors profitable, but after about a year it became apparent that Bing and I were not on the same wavelength and when an opportunity came up with a Toronto dealership I took advantage of it. Consequently, we moved to Toronto in July 1961, to take a position with Lauria Motors Ltd., Willowdale.

Scene 4 – Toronto

In 1961, Raymond moved to Toronto, to the same place that two previous Farndale families had emigrated in the late nineteenth century. He was employed between 1961 and 1962 by Lauria Motor Sales Ltd, Toronto. Lauria became Roy Foss Motors, General Motors dealership. The family lived at 2177 Avenue Road, Apartment 120, Toronto from June 1961 to April 1962 and then at Willowdale. Raymond worked for Roy Foss Motors in Toronto, another Pontiac Dealer in Buick.

Their daughter Ada Denise Farndale (“Denise”) was born in November 1962. Raymond was on the voter’s list for Willowdale Avenue ay York, Scarborough, Ontario in 1962, an office manager, with his wife, Ellie (also known as Helen). His father John Martin was also listed and shown retired.

Scene 5 – Halifax

Halifax is the capital of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Coastal areas of Nova Scotia in the region of Halifax were inhabited seasonally by Mi’kmaq before the influx of Europeans. The first permanent European settlement in the region was on the Halifax Peninsula. The establishment of the town of Halifax, named after the 2nd Earl of Halifax, in 1749 led to the colonial capital being transferred from Annapolis Royal. The establishment of Halifax marked the beginning of Father Le Loutre's War, which began when Edward Cornwallis arrived to establish Halifax with 13 transports and a sloop of war on 21 June 1749. By unilaterally establishing Halifax, the British were violating earlier treaties with the Mi'kmaq of 1726, which were signed after Father Rale's War. Cornwallis brought along 1,176 settlers and their families. To guard against Mi'kmaq, Acadian and French attacks on the new Protestant settlements, British fortifications were erected in Halifax at Citadel Hill in 1749, Bedford at Fort Sackville also in 1749, Dartmouth in 1750, and Lawrencetown in 1754. St Margaret's Bay was first settled by French speaking Foreign Protestants at French Village, Nova Scotia who migrated from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia during the American Revolution.

On 6 December 1917 the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship carrying munitions, collided with the Belgian Relief vessel SS Imo in The Narrows between upper Halifax Harbour and Bedford Basin. The resulting explosion, the Halifax Explosion, devastated the Richmond District in the North End of Halifax, killing about 2,000 people and injuring nearly 9,000 others. The blast was the largest artificial explosion before the development of nuclear weapons. Aid came from Boston, strengthening the bond between the two coastal cities.

Raymond came to Halifax in 1964 and was employed by Wood Motors Ltd as office manager until he left in 1979 aged 65. In 1964, the family lived at Bayers Road and later moved to Main Avenue, Laurel Lane, Forest Hill Drive, Dublin Street and London Street, Halifax.

From 1976 to 1984 Raymond worked for Airport Transfer Limited. Denise started lifeguarding in summer and there were memories of pool parties and more lots of socialising.

Many of the Canadian immigrants docked in Halifax on their journey west, including the Albertan Farndales, who we will meet next in Act 27.

Scene 6 – Guelph, Ontario

In 1990, Raymond moved back to Ontario and settled in Guelph, west of Toronto, where he worked part time with Procept Associates Limited and later with Dave Moore and Associates. He recalled many happy hours during the day taking care of his granddaughter Emily Watson.

The Oldest living Farndale

As a 101 year old Veteran, Raymond Poppy Farndale, sat with his medals and war scrapbook in front of his portrait. He took part in a project at Guelph Public Librray to commemorate a hundred portraits and a hundred poppies. He said I thought it was an important project to remember those who have served in the military or had some association with the military. Not only do I feel strongly about the poppy and what it symbolizes, my 2 grandchildren (Christopher and Emily) call me “Poppy” so it is quite special to me. He was remembering the people I met during World War 2. I am one of the few veterans left from my regiment and I felt I was representing all of the amazing men and women I worked alongside. He added that while a lot has changed since I was born, 101 years ago, some things have remained the same. One thing I have always lived by is to treat others as you would like to be treated. If you do this, you can never go wrong.

Raymond died on 23 May 2016.

Ray enjoyed a long and fulfilling life. Beginning Feb 23, 1914, in St John's and then Corner Brook, Newfoundland and living most of his life in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he peacefully passed away on May 23, 2016, in Guelph, Ontario, his new-found home.

Ray, a true gentleman, was kind and generous of spirit. He was passionate about inclusion, notably those with special or medical needs and those marginalized by poverty or life circumstances. He adopted many local and international causes, always adapting with the times. He loved his Blue Jays, mystery novels, choir singing, politics, good jokes and live music. A life-long learner, he conquered the computer and worked well into his 90's, as an accountant. He always enjoyed "doing his books", gardening, walking, swimming, skating, ballroom dancing and amateur acting. While a man of few words, he demonstrated deep emotion and always had a twinkle in his eye.

Ray was a proud veteran of World War II, serving as Lieutenant in the 23rd Battery of the 59th Regiment of Royal Artillery and was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD).

He was a devoted husband to Ellie Tipple, with whom he shared many adventures, until her passing in 2010. He was a dear father to Keith (Sue) Farndale, and Denise (Jack) Watson and was a special Poppy to Emily and Christopher Watson and granddog Molly, who adored him. Ray was pre-deceased by his British parents, John and Bessie, and his younger brother Bertram. He was a loyal friend to many and had strong relationships, most recently with those at Wellington Park Retirement Residence.

All who knew Ray agree that his teachers and peers got it right when they awarded him the Knowling Scholarship numerous times, as "Best All Round Boy"!

To honour his wishes, cremation and a private memorial was held. Arrangements entrusted to the Wall-Custance Funeral Home & Chapel. Memories were shared at www.wallcustance.com. A tree was planted in memory of Raymond W. S. Farndale in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest, University of Guelph Arboretum. Dedication service, Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 2:30 pm.

Whilst there are no more Farndales in Newfoundland, Keith Farndale expanded the geographical reach of the family further when he settled in Ajijic in Mexico.

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