Hi, this is Fred Wallace with ” Off the Wire “,….. proudly sponsored by Pete’s Auto Body.
Pete’s Auto Body; because we care about our community….
I have extremely fond memories of Bob Atkinson.
For many years I’d encounter Bob at the annual Bluewater West Elementary Cross Country Meet at Saugeen Bluffs.
Year after year after year, in great weather and in brutal weather, Bob would be in the picnic shelter representing the Paisley Legion, presenting the awards to the youngsters and most of all serving as walking, breathing, living example of what a Canadian soldier was and always will be.
His military service included serving for Canada during the Second World War in England, France and Belgium.
Interestingly, I never heard Bob speak about the war….. He didn’t have to. You simply had to look at him to understand who he was, what he was and what that meant to him
When Bob passed away at age 92, fittingly the meet organizers named the event in Bob’s honour as a tribute to Bob individually and as a reminder to everyone about our country’s past and the service that was required and delivered.
Almost 80 years after the 2nd World War, I thought of Bob last week when the meet organizers cancelled the meet for a 2nd straight year.
Understand that the committee, centered at Paisley Central School seemingly forever, truly wanted to host the meet in 2021.
But after a sequence of meetings and discussions pertaining to the time frame and especially to COVID protocols, the decision, unfortunately. was made to cancel once again.
Naturally, the hope is to stage the meet in 2022.
But what the current alteration illustrates, once again, is the powerful negative impact the pandemic has.
Bob Atkinson was never slowed by global conflict, nor altered by horrible weather, yet COVID 19 in back to back years has managed to scratch a great event for elementary school youngsters from the local sporting calendar.
For Pete’s Auto Body, I’m Fred Wallace