Heading for Deep River, a Post from Alan and Glynis

Where Mr Paul was born ...

Rewind to 1978 – (Professor) Roger Cowley suggested to Alan that he should, as an aspiring Physics academic, spend some time either at Grenoble, Brookhaven National Laboratory (New York on Long Island) or … Deep River, Ontario. Rather to Alan’s surprise, Glynis thought this was a good idea and chose Deep River as the destination.

We were to be mentored by Bill Buyers, a canny Aberdonian, who fixed up an office, apartment and etc. while Alan sorted out grant funding to pay for the cornflakes. In the Autumn of 1978, Glynis took her first ever flight (on a Jumbo Jet) to Toronto, then her second, on a DC3 (yes, the WW2 thingie – with door chains that clanked noisily all the way from Toronto to Pembroke!). Bill collected us from Pembroke “airport” and deposited us with breakfast supplies, in 35 Hillcrest, Deep River.

Within 24 hours, Alan was at work and with a further 24, we had been “nobbled” by Community Church, Deep River. There we met the Coles, who adopted us, the Sivernses, who did likewise and many other people who became close friends and supporters during our 2 happy years in Deep River. We joined choirs (church, town and “Cantandos”). We canoed, skied (cross-country, Ontario is pretty damn flat!), sang and lived as happy “Canadians”. During 1980, Paul happened along (we now know what caused him) and curtailed Glynis’s 79-80 skiing rather dramatically. That’s how he comes to have two passports. At the end of the two years, we came home as we promised we would and promptly decided that (a) Scotland was boring and (b) there were no jobs in Physics. We would go back to the job “offered” in Deep River and become proper Canucks. Sadly, or happily (as many things would have been different had it been otherwise) the Deep River opportunity had disappeared as the Canadian government began to favour Canadians for permanent jobs. So – Alan moved to Electronics and we settled back into Corstorphine then Penicuik.

We clearly forgot what had caused Paul, as Sooz happened along in 1985 and Canadian memories began to fade into a rosy glow.

Fast forward to 1992. Time to take Mr. Paul back to his birthplace. So – Glynis had to brave the sky again (not a DC3 this time, tho, sadly). All our friends were still there, and it was a very nostalgic trip for A and G. We visited Ottawa, James lakes, Toronto, Niagara, Lake Superior – and mostly Deep River and all the lovely people who had looked after the startled young couple that had arrived on their doorstep in1978. Marlene and Maurice looked after us, Jinty and Don entertained us and lent a canoe (again!). Alan learned how to install drywall with Maurice (plasterboard to you Brits!) and it was like the 12 years hadn’t passed.

Now – a further 18 years on, Paul’s heading back to his birthplace with Charlotte. He’ll certainly see the Millers (Alistair and Margaret … dear friends and unique people). We hope he’ll find Maurice, Marlene, Margaret, Bill … possibly even Jinty. Don Smith , sadly, died not so long ago – a lovely man and a good friend to have. He will be sadly missed. Hopefully the rest of the DeepRiverites are doing what we are trying to do – grow old without growing up. Love to them all.