Hi, I came across these messages while searching for "RCAF brats
Fontainebleau". I was there from July 1959 to July 1962 so obviously didn't
know either of you but came across the name Ricky Wright whom I did know, I
think the Wrights left about a year
after we arrived.
We lived at 36 Blvd Marshal Foche and then in the apartements at Round Point.
I'd be interested in hearing from others who were there. It was a great
experience. I was 12 when I went there and 15 when we left.
Rick Fader.
On Tuesday, 29 February 2000 01:00:00 UTC-7, PETER DESPAULT wrote:
> Duncan.....well my God! I nearly fell off my chair when I saw your name. The
> last time I spoke to you would have been 41 years ago. (Good to catch up
every
> half century or so though). I believe the reason for any memory lapse is
> because we were four years apart in age, and thus had different social
circles.
> You see, you used to babysit my brothers, sister, and I. Your folks and mine
> were best of friends. Our Dad's both worked on the the microwave tower system
> and sites together, I believe. You know....of all my memories of over there,
> your name and that of your folks, along with about 9 or 10 others are the
ONLY
> ones I can recall. They remained like memory icons of the place, all this
time.
> I hope all has gone well for you over these long years. I phoned Mom to tell
her
> about your E-mail, and she was happy, sends her very best wishes to your
family,
> and, of course, asked after them as well.
>
> You probably remember all the Canadians going off to Garmische-Partenkirchen,
> Bavaria together on weekend skiing trips. They would rent one entire floor of
> the Partenkirchener Hotel for themselves. I still have many home movies,
(which,
> of course, include your family), of the many trips and parties thrown. Was it
> your mom who, at social gatherings, would often mention which of the Loire
> Chateaux was her particular favourite, and how, as soon as Grahame had
tidied up
> the mortgaging details, she would be buying it?
>
> Do you remember Cpl. Ted Williams, the cub/scout leader and baseball coach?
He
> and his wife organized a Fontainebleau reunion 6 or 7 years ago. (I think at
> Ottawa?) Apparently an absolute success. I'd love to know who all attended
that
> one. Let me give you these names I recall - Gail and Gary Kilgour (went to
B.C.)
> - Pat and Joyce Herrington (we caught up with them at Bagotville in the
60's) -
> Peter and "Moose" Rancourt - Maj.Eller,U.S.A.F., whose son was "Chucky"
> (Boston) - the Millers - the Monaches (spelling ?) - "Red" and Doe Ultican -
> Ricky Wright - the Trites. That's all I can think of.
>
> For me France had it all - the natural beauty, the History, the cultural and
> architectural wonders, the cuisine, the great friends, etc. Simply, my
favourite
> posting of the lot. Topping it off, though, is remembering the pure class
shown
> by the Canadian Personnel in general, over there. Working in a diplomatically
> complex and dangerous time, far from home, as only one part of a larger
> international presence.....I remind myself, hell! They made it look easy,
didn't
> they.
>
> I never thought of myself as long winded, but it's starting to look that way.
> I'm at j.p.despault@sympatico.ca or the bratsite anytime you feel like
shooting
> the breeze. I retired two years ago, after 30 years with the Feds at
Ottawa, so
> have a bit more time. You and all your family are tops in my book.Let me know
> how life's treated you, as I always had this recollection of you as someone
who
> would do well.
>
>
> Duncan Craig wrote:
>
> > How strange, the memories are similar, but I don't remember your
> > name. We went over in June or July, 1955 on the Samaria. Our
> > first home was about 12 km. out, in the village of Bois-le-Roi.
> > We had to use RAF buses to get to the International school in
> > Fontainebleau. In '56 we moved to a house in Fontainebleau, then
> > in '57 to the NATO apartments near the Rond-point, where we
> > stayed until July, 1959. I was 12 when we arrived and 16 when
> > we returned to Canada. my pals were Tommy Thompson, Doug Ball,
> > Terry Farrell, Peter Roberts, Kenny Dowd, Pat Kyle....., and a
> > gang of British kids we hung out with. never got along much
with
> > the American kids.
> >
> > Would love to hear more Fontainebleau memories.
> > "PETER DESPAULT" wrote in message
> > news:38B8146A.97AA7717@sympatico.ca...
> > > Hi all;
> > >
> > > I just wanted to add Fontainebleau France to Kathleen H's "base
> > > memories" series, because I hadn't noticed any newsgroup posts from
> > > there. Our family was posted there from Winnipeg in '55 on the good ship
> > > "S.S. Homeric" sailing out of Montreal. (Remember when that was the only
> > > way over?) We lived in the nearby village of Veneux-les-Sablons at
> > > first. Dad's family sized Buick Roadmaster couldn't fit down half of
> > > those narrow, medieval streets. We subsequently upgraded to the "flats"
> > > near the ronde-pointe. That's right.... directly across the street from
> > > the slaughter-house.
> > >
> > > Service personnel used script money at the American base, and French
> > > currency at the small British army post and at Camp Guynemere. At one
> > > point, the Americans switched over to U.S. currency and they proceeded
> > > to burnt ALL the script in a bloody great pile in the centre of the
> > > parade square right there and then.
> > >
> > > We saw 2" of snow ONCE in 31/2 years, and when it came, the Canucks knew
> > > what do do with it. I would say 3/4 of our youthful free-time there was
> > > spent playing outdoors in the beautiful local forest of Impressionist
> > > and Post-Impressionist fame. The only negative regarding that passtime
> > > was that, being only ten years after the war, there was a real risk of
> > > stepping on unrecovered landmines, or something like that. We never
> > > thought of that then of course, but I do remember finding all sorts of
> > > live ammo, rusted guns, trenchs and bunkers, as well as helmets from
> > > many nations. I swear, one local friend, (just a youngster), from down
> > > the street, had stored up enough weaponry in his attic to start another
> > > Battle of the Bulge single-handedly. (I'm talking mortars, machine guns,
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