1990 Reunion In Montreal

Patsy Wightman and Donald Nosworthy
Montreal 1990

Don visited Patsy at hospital. They had not seen each other since 1963.

Grandpa's 1936 Indian

One of my favourite songs is Richard Thompson’s “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”. It is a tragic romance story song that revolves around the singer’s love for both his redheaded girlfriend and also that of his motorcycle. Whenever I hear the song I think of my Canadian grandparents for a couple of different reasons. They first met in the 1930s when she asked him to give her a ride on his motorcycle. The characters in the song, James and Molly, met in a similar way when she gets a ride on his Vincent motorcycle. The song contains a line about the superiority of the Vincent over other makes, Nortons, Indians, or Greeves, won’t do. Grandpa’s motorcycle was an Indian and he would often fondly reminisce about it thirty or forty years later.

The week before his wedding my grandfather had a minor accident with his bike. Nothing serious, he was dinged up but no broken bones and nothing so bad as to postpone his marriage. However, his new bride insisted that he get rid of the Indian immediately. The motorcycle must have been hard for Grandpa to part with. I am sure it was his first vehicle and it surely represented some incredible freedom for a young man in the midst of the Great Depression. He managed to hold a job the whole time and he was helping to support his mother and younger siblings since his father had abandoned the family. Somehow he still managed to put away enough to buy the Indian. However, it must not have been the most practical mode of transportation in Montreal winters.

This is not a photo of his bike but it is a restoration of one from that era.

Donald Nosworthy in the Artillery

This was my Grandfather's artillery brigade. He is the last one seated on the far right of the next to the last row. I think this was taken in the 1930s.

BATTERY WINS GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S CUP

The 10th Medium Battery of Montreal has been awarded the Governor-General's Cup for highest general efficiency. The unit is the second Montreal battery to have won the cup since it was originated in 1882, the first being the 7th Medium Battery in 1923. The 10th Battery also won the Wilson Smith Cup for efficiency at gun practice.

The officers of the battery seated, from left to right are: Lieut. J.S. Walford, Capt. E.T. Renouf, Major R.E. Bliss, commanding officer, Lieut. C.M. Benett and Sec. Lieut. V.G. Scu?

More From Toronto 1953

More photos from July, 1953, taken at the "Beaches" in Toronto. Above is my Mom, Peggy Nosworthy at the age of 15.

Previous posts from the Beaches can be viewed HERE and HERE and HERE

Granny Nosworthy

Dave Nosworthy sent me these scans recently. This is Mary Falconer Nosworthy (Bolivar) at the age of 72. Granny would live another twenty years. This is from Christmas 1958 at her youngest son's, Bruce's, house. She is seated with Bruce's wife, Patricia, and grandchildren, Bob and Sheryl.

All the other photos I have of Granny are later than this and less clear. Hopefully we can uncover some that are even earlier. Check your shoeboxes and send them along.