While looking at the photos of Prime Minister Lester Pearson's visit to Marville in January of 1964 that are on the web site I remembered something interesting.
At the time of his visit I was the NCO in charge of Safety Systems at No. 1 hangar and was asked to be there when he came by. We put all the survival gear that was carried in the seat pack along with the parachute on the wing of the 104 and I told him that everything he saw there went into the seat and the pilot sat on it. He said "that's hard to believe, how do you get all that in there"? Mostly by a lot of swearing I said. He laughed and said I can believe that! Would I tell a lie to my Prime Minister I said. Some one took a picture and if you have a look see I am the one in the white coveralls. And clean coveralls too I would like to point out.
The picture was taken some 40 years ago when I was just 32 years old. Later I was in Ottawa when he came through the hangar where I worked. I got to speak with him again and I asked him if he remembered his visit to Marville? He said he had and wanted to know when I returned to Canada. We attended his funeral service at the Parliament buildings on a cold and rainy day, but I can't remember the year.
Updated: February 17, 2004