We became involved in many activities during those years towards the end of the thirties; playing badminton, boxing, cards, dancing, bicycle trips, hunting, the school band and singing groups. Many of these endeavours involved the older people, which made memories a pleasant interlude in the future to ward off homesickness which affected many when they left home for the first time. And, sadly, some for the last time.
Amongst the people who made such a difference to the young of our community at that time were the Bomfords. Some years before a young Englishman had emigrated to our area and bought an orchard. I think it was the old Coulter place.
In due course he met and married Marnie Gibson. There were three sisters, - Marnie, Frankie and Bill (Lillian) and two brothers, Dr. John and Fred, an engineer on the Kettle Valley Railway. Their parents had settled in Keremeos in the early part of the century and the Gibson House still stands in Keremeos, the upper floor being used for museum, art and cultural activities.
Eric began raising chickens for egg production to supplement the farm income. This, in turn, required a good deal of hand labour to grade and clean the eggs. Because their property was very close to the community hall some of our group would go down to Eric and Marnie's to give them a hand. The attraction was the good fun that seemed to prevail at all times. Often Frankie would be there and they were forever playing tricks on one another.
In later years, after the war, the Bomfords were very good to us. Eric built a house at Poplar Grove where we lived until we left for the DVA project in Cawston. In talking to him, as we all grew older, we expressed our thanks to him for this, and he said then that though he wasn't able to return to England for service during the war years he had great appreciation for the young men from Poplar Grove who did go, and that the house was his way of expressing this appreciation.
When Hildred was ill after our oldest child was born, Dr. John Gibson came the five miles from Penticton to take her to hospital in his own car.
They were good friends and a fine family, among whom you always felt welcome
Eric would often loan us his 36 Studebaker to use on weekends and we would visit around the small towns and in general have a good time.
These trips didn't include girls usually, - something that would have been frowned upon in those years....
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