Pamela was born, reared and educated in England. On leaving school in 1942, she nursed in an orthopaedic hospital with the intention of becoming a physiotherapist. Allergies to the wool blankets of those days necessitated a change of career, so she enrolled at the Froebel Educational Institute. She majored in music for three years and after graduating, studied piano for another year in order to become a Licentiate of The Royal Academy of Music.
Now it was time to earn a living so she taught in England, Egypt and Iraq, where she met her husband, Peter. In 1958 there was a revolution. The King of Iraq was assassinated and life became restricted. They decided to move to a more stable country and, with their three year old son, came to Canada in 1959.
They settled in Calgary, stayed there for thirty years and were faithful members of St. Peter’s Anglican Church. They reared three boys and Pamela taught piano, music and general subjects on a part-time basis and did volunteer work.
In 1989, Pamela found herself alone, so she realized a dream of coming to live in the mountains where she and her family had often skiied and hiked. She immediately joined St. Michael’s Church and the tennis club and soon made friends. With the blessing of the rector and Norman Witham, she reactivated their church choir a family affair containing three sets of parents and offspring.
Since one really should not hike alone in the mountains, it seemed expedient to seek out companions. With Bob Smith’s help, she formed the Canmore Senior ‘s Hiking Group, now known as the Meanderthals.
Pamela is still happily here, still involved in church and volunteer activities and enjoying the social life with many wonderful Canmore friends. Her only regret is that her ties to Calgary prevent her from being more fully involved in the life of Canmore.
Eleven years ago, there were no houses on the east side of the highway, Marra’s was the only grocery, and the shops all closed on Sundays. The changes have been amazing and not always well received, but Canmore is still a great place in which to make one’s home. Pamela’s last wish — to be gone before the first house reaches the top of Ha Ling Peak!
Feb., 2000, Machu Picchu, Peru, doing my favourite thing, hiking
In Canmore Seniors at the Summit, ed. Canmore Seniors Association, 2000, p. 109-110.
