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I*a^e 8 West Vancouver Historical Society .laiuiary 2004 The Other Vet We Promised to Tell You About In November we spoke about two highly regarded ex-W. V.H.S. teachers, Richard James “Dick” Wright, and Ernest McDonald “Ernie” Kershaw. Both are ex-members of the R.C.A.F. A third, more “junior” member is also a veteran of the R.C.A.F., James Robert “Jimmy” Thomson. Jim is a North Shore man, born and bred. He attended North Vancouver High School in the days of “Micky” McDougall, graduating in the class of ‘38. When he was twenty-one he joined the air force, where he initially served as an aero-engine mechanic, but was later remustered to the air inspection directorate. This work involved quality inspection of such aircraft as the Avro Anson, the De Havilland Mosquito bomber, and to a lesser extent the B-29 and Catalina (PBY) flying boat. Following the war Jim took advantage of D.V.A. support to do his training as a shops teacher. Little did he know then that one day he would build three shops in West Vancouver. His first year of teaching was in Wells, B.C., where his introduction to the teaching profession was given added lustre by the wonderful October-to-May skiing enjoyed by people in the area. The remain- der of his career was spent at West Van High, beginning in the fall of 1948. Jim was dedicated to his craft, his profession and his students. His love for the job was infectious. At least eight of his former students went on to teach shops themselves. Others, who went into professions closely or incidentally related to Jim’s field, often “buttonhole” him in the supermarket or on the seawalk. Invariably, they tell him how his courses helped them in their work. Jim supervised the building of three school shops in West Vancouver during his career. Now he enjoys over two months a year at Hopkins Landing, and continues to work with wood. He says he is still having fun in retirement. Doubtless one of the inspirations behind Jim’s achievements was his wife Madeleine (Humphrey), a 1942 graduate of the school. A Remarkable Woman Acknowledged (Concl) continued without letup from start to finish. (Her first teacher, by tlie way, was Miss Helen Ritchie, who would later marry Ed Lane. An interesting co-incidence: Brenda’s first year at schoolâ€"1925â€"was also Ed Lane’s first.) In an anxious search for newsletter material I constantly thank Brenda and her private archives, fler collection is interesting, and 1 can’t describe what a great help it is to me in providing material for History-Onics. Her contribution for the March newsletter is nothing short of extraordinary. Another contributing private WV archivist lives in Victoria. She will be lauded in celebretory form in an upcoming issue of the newsletter. (The only reason she didn’t receive full acknowledgement here and now is that she’s junior to Brenda.) ! ^ have had good response about our general meeting guest speakers. The person deserving praise in this regard is board member and very long-time West Vancouverite Bud Langley. Kudos, Bud!