Comments: Well said Ian your thought certanly do bring back a lot of good memories!
Added: February 25, 2014
Submitted by Name: Ian Malcolm From: Ottawa
Comments: "Break it to me gently" - is there anything better than a Brenda Lee song to bring back memories? Brenda was a big hit with my older brother Rob and we heard her often around the house, The next most frequent chanteuse was Vera Lynn whose timeless World War II ballads were a great favorite of my parents. I still listen to both singers these four plus decades later and think of my times in Shilo ... continued ...
Added: February 25, 2014
Submitted by Name: Ian Malcolm
Comments: When I saw an entry on the Facebook page that featured some classic Shilo landmarks (General Strange Hall, the hockey rink, the PMQs and, of course, PEHS) and that asked what do you remember about Shilo, I put on the music and slipped back into that strange little world. I remember a great deal about Shilo - it was my last time at home before joining the Army and leaving at the absurdly naive age of 17. It was the last time all of my brothers and sisters were together living at 27 The Packway with two to a room and one in the basement. Shilo was a watershed for me, a point at which my life changed in many ways and from where I departed to find my own way in the world (still looking I guess). Shilo was a world on to itself in the 1960s. There was no internet or cable TV or cell phones to keep us all entwined with the hectic pace of modern life. At Shilo, you could get a family membership at the base golf club for $25 a year and play there from 0700 to 2200 in the summer, usually with Rod March to squeeze in a few rounds after work. At Shilo, you could get the keys to the hockey arena and open it up at 0630 to play shinny with an ever changing group of skilled and determined players. At Shilo, I took on my first paying jobs at about $1.00 an hour cleaning the "Q" lines and then cutting grass around the base and ending up as a cleaner at Canex. I still remember Mrs. Forke behind the soda fountain serving up a beautiful, creamy milkshake for my breaks - 25 Cents a shot. I remember Princess Elizabeth being a focal point for a lot more than academic studies, although the teachers were a dedicated and generally motivated lot - that in itself is a huge commendation given the high grade audiences they had to deal with. But to me PEHS was an avenue to sports - football in the fall, hockey all winter and then it was golf season. I started sports there that I still play at today.
Added: February 25, 2014
Submitted by Name: Ian Malcolm From: continued
Comments: Yet it was at PEHS where I gained a love of reading and learning that has stuck with me to this point in my life. The best teacher I ever had worked at PEHS and I will never forget Mary T. She had a wonderful sense of humor that was often coupled with a biting wit, just to let you know who was really in charge. I "locked horns" many times with Mary T and that is where I learned the true value of resilience - the art of picking yourself up after being soundly defeated. I became very resilient. Those long, hot spring and early summer days in Shilo just demanded that we not spend all of our time in a classroom and I remember dreaming up some legitimate excuses as to why I missed a day. I remember that long, low road into Brandon with the heavy winds always against you and passing cars drifting small rocks back at you with an almost deliberate aim. I remember Spruce Groves which proved to be a good place with lots of shade and conveniently out of sight spots to park to sip down a little lemon gin (and others) before heading back to PEHS trying not to show any signs. In Shilo I met my first girlfriend and went through all the emotional upheavals that entails. She was a special person but I knew things could never last once I left for military college. That's life - but it happened in Shilo. Most of us went through similar experiences on the way to "growing up". I have not been back many times to the base but plan on one more trip in the near future. I know you can never go back and things do change, but I also know that I will stand near where the old school used to be and for a little while I will be 17 again. That's what Shilo means to me and I will not forget. Ian Malcolm.
Added: February 25, 2014
Submitted by Name: Lynn Jeffrey (Nee Mills) From: East Sussex, England E-mail: amaryllis53@hotmail.com
Comments: Hi! Ken I remember your sister Diane, we graduated together in 1971...I remember her being a great girl. I hope life has been good to her...please give her my regards when you next speak to her.
Comments: I did most of my schooling in Shilo then ended up in Kingston Ontario, Borden and back to Kingston.
I know live in Ottawa for quiet some time now. My sister Diane still lives in Spruce wood.
Added: February 18, 2014
Submitted by Name: doug jordan From: Wpg
Comments: I second that Bill. Byron was the best athlete I ever played with. He was great at all sports. I heard from him a few years ago and he was in good health and doing well.
Added: February 15, 2014
Submitted by Name: Bill Gillespie From: AB/BC E-mail: bgillespie@shaw.ca
Comments: Just two more little memories from the PEHS Sports Program in the mid-60's:
Byron Brown was one of the best natural athletes in Shilo in the 60's. He excelled at most sports, but was a really good, humble guy- willing to support the other guys on the team, and help them. I had just had "my bell rung" in football by a 10 - foot tall linebacker from Neepawa when Bryon says " I'll take care of him!".
Byron was always there when you needed him- the PEHS basketball team had advanced to the Manitoba Provincial Play-Offs in '65. I was so uptight in that game against those 10 foot-tall giants from Wiinnipeg-I goofed a simple pass to Byron. He says- " get your s--- together!"
Can't remember who won that game, but I'll always remember Byron Brown and what a great guy he is!
Big John was one of my main protectors and always willing to tell us in the huddle - "just run it over me, I can block him all day". The guy I recall fondly is Joe playing at fullback who, when he built up some steam, was like tackling a solid wall. Yeah - lots of thoughts and we would have won a couple if that mud patch wasn't there and if the refs weren't home town guys and if....
Name: Robert Charlton
From: Calgary Alberta
E-mail: robertcharlton687@yahoo.com
CFB Shilo has change quit a bit since I live there. So has many of the people I knew Ha Ha