Letters to the editor
Reader feedback submitted to the 2023 November-December edition
These are letters to the editor submitted to the Manor Park Chronicle.
Naval inquiry
I was intrigued by John Graham’s account of participating in Queen Elizabeth’s 1953 coronation contingent (“Naval misadventures from a previous coronation” in the September-October edition of the Chronicle). I look forward to the sequel. [Editor’s note: The conclusion to the naval tale is available here.]
John’s account brought back memories. One of my relatives was there. This was Roger Bidwell, my mother’s brother. As Flag Officer Atlantic, he led the Royal Canadian Navy contingent to the coronation. He was at the time Rear Admiral in charge of RCN Atlantic.
Roger retired some years later, and died in 1968, at the fairly young age of 69. His whole life was the navy, and he was depressed at the Hellyer unification initiative of the time, which he saw as destructive of naval traditions.
I grew up in Vancouver. I met him a few times, with fond memories, mostly when he was commodore in charge of the Esquimalt dockyard.
He was presented with the chair in which he was seated in Westminster Abbey at the coronation and was allowed to keep it. Subsequently, he passed on the chair to his elder son Tony, a plant scientist at Queen’s University in Kingston, who retired to Wallace, Nova Scotia, home of his wife Shirley’s family.
The chair was a fixture when I used to visit. Tony died in 2021, and I expect the chair is now in the custody of Tony and Shirley’s daughter Alison, who lives in Wallace. So an everyday reminder of history.
I don’t expect that John would have known him personally. But he may have encountered him, or listened to a speech, perhaps. My inquiry was to learn if he knew the name and had any recollections.
Thank you again for the articles, and for connecting.
John Edmond
John Graham responded, “Yes – I know the name Roger Bidwell, but not the person. As you can imagine, he was out of sight in terms of grade. In those days, the captain of a frigate, a Cdr or Lt/Cdr was God. I imagine that your uncle flew his flag (a special one for seagoing admirals) on one of the cruisers, either the HMS Ontario or Quebec.”
Shipping news
Re: “Naval misadventures from a previous coronation” in the September-October 2023 edition of the Chronicle
Not to forget the CGS d’Iberville (Canadian Government Ship), was also present. This ship (based out of Quebec City) was one of Canada’s most powerful icebreakers for the period and would later be known as Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) d’Iberville.
Clark Norris
Young storytellers
Thank you for all that you and the Chronicle team do to provide an excellent newspaper.
As I read through the September-October issue yesterday (September19), I saw magic in the headline story “When (lost) in Rome” by Sloane Smith, and in “Amy and Lola Visit England” by Ayden King Muraleetharan.
Ms. Smith brought Italy to life for all of Manor Park. A forgotten cell phone became a heartwarming tale of kindness via the neighbours from Manor Park, and the Italian cab driver in Rome. I could see the back seat of the taxi, and will forevermore remember to look back and check twice!!
Young Mr. Muraleetharan took us to England in a beautiful tale about Amy and Lola, two dogs living out their best lives in an alternate cat reality. I am not even a dog person, but the story made me smile!!
Both stories were exciting and engaging! They made me proud to live in a neighborhood with such excellent storytelling nearby. I hope both writers keep up the excellent work.
Deb Blondell-Pitt