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Page 5 NOVEMBER GENERAL MEETING A few years ago when the film "An Officer and a Gentleman" came to town, I mentioned to a member of the younger generation that Richard Gere, one of my favorite actors, had the starring role. Sweet, young thing therupon enquired, "Who's playing the Gentleman"? That story came to mind when Jim MacCarthy, upon introducing guest speaker, Peter Finch, referred to him as "one of West Vancouver's fine gentlemen." Needless to say, only one person stepped forward! Mr. Finch was raised and educated in England and by profession is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. He was recruited in London by the Guinness Family group of companies to manage their interests in this particular part of the world and he has been President and Managing Director of British Pacific Properties Ltd. since 1967. Mr. Finch's topic, "Looking Back Over 60 Years with West Vancouver" was delivered with obvious pride and pleasure and was of such interest that for the benefit of those unable to attend the meeting, most of the text appears below. Jim MacCarthy, in referring to British Pacific Properties Ltd., pointed out that the company has for many years taken a very active part in West Vancouver community affairs. In addition to the lighting of the Lions Gate Bridge, British Pacific Properties Ltd. has made a sizeable donation to the expansion of the West Vancouver Memorial Library and provides financial support to the Lions Gate Hospital and Capilano College. The company is also a corporate member of the Historical Society - a very generous corporate member. Enter Mr. Peter Finch. "I feel when I look at you in this audience that the history I have put together over the years is probably part of your everyday life - you actually had first hand experience of the things I might talk about," Peter Finch then proceeded to impart a good deal of information that many in the audience did not know. His "historical collection" begins in the summer of 1931 with a lawyer, Mr. Greenwood, and a financial adviser, Mr. Bland, both of whom advised members of the Guinness Family. They had left England on May 27th, on the maiden voyage of the Empress of Britain, the flagship of the Canadian Pacific fleet. They travelled across Canada with Mr. A.J.T. Taylor whom they had already met in England. Mr. Taylor, an engineer from Victoria, was to play a leading part in the British Pacific Properties Company and in the First Narrows Bridge Company. It was Mr. Taylor who formed the company and brought into it a number of wealthy families in Britain. The projects Mr. Taylor was involved with included the Dolly Varden Mine in B.C.; the British Empire Building in New York; and the Earls Court Exhibition Building in London. It was through his involvement with the British Empire Building that he'd met and worked with Lord Southborough v;ho was to become one of the initial shareholders in the British Pacific Properties Company although he was not a member of the Guinness Family. Mr. Eyre, a long time friend and colleague of Mr. Taylor was also one of the initial shareholders. Later they both sold out their interests to the Guinness Family members. The members of the Guinness Family I refer to were three brothers. Lord Ivor, Lord Moyne and the Honourable Ernest Guinness. The Guinness Family expanded their interests in Vancouver when they purchased the Marine Building and made investments in Alberta. In 1956, the family decided to go their separate ways in their business interests. Lord Moyne and Lady Normandy, son and daughter of the first Lord Moyne, received the land and shopping centre. The Ivor and Ernest Guinness Families received the Alber-ta interests and the downtown Vancouver properties. But back to Mr. Greenwood, Mr. Bland and Mr. Taylor v^ho had visited 0ttav;a and met with members of the Federal Cabinet, particularly Mr. H.H. Stevens, who was