Video #7.

Our 7th video is a bit different. Katherine Whitworth tells us about Katharine Maltwood's life, art and The Thatch, her long time home at Royal Oak. Members of our group Grant Sheldrake, Harvey Sherman and Morgan Ostler add their personal recollections of the Maltwoods.

Just added

The complete 1951 and 1952 Mt. Newton High School Annuals can now be found on the School Annuals/Reunions page. Click on the link and download these photo filled PDF files.

Oral History #6.

An Oral History video by Peter Thomas is now on Youtube. Mr. Thomas taught at both Mt. Newton and Royal Oak Schools and many of us were his students at various times. Visit the Oral Histories page for the link.

New additions to the Blog.

Recent additions are Mt. Newton High School Annuals from 1948, 1949 and 1950 and an interesting bit of history called Royal Oak Recollections. The links to the former are on the annual and reunion page and to the  latter is on the publications and books page.

Oral History #5

Gary Cunningham's oral history video is now available on Youtube. This is a fact filled  look at a very interesting and talented family. Go to the oral history page or click on the link here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ioyREyiwE

Additions and Revisions.

Class Photos. All class photos have been updated and some new ones added including some from Cordova Bay, North Saanich, Prospect Lake and Keating.

Links. A new link has been added that will take you to The Canadian Letters and Images Project. If you are not familiar with this site I think you will enjoy a visit. There is also a link to a memoir on this site written by Kenneth W. Foster about his experiences during WW1.

New Oral History Audio/video.

Another great oral history video has been added to our ROSY Blog site. As those of you who attended our Sept. 13 meeting know, the speaker was Liesel (Layritz) Jakeman. This oral history is a  fact filled account of the life of Richard Layritz and the story of Layritz Nurseries and Life in Saanich and Royal Oak from the late 1800's to the 1950's.

We hope that you will watch, enjoy and forward the link to other folks who you think might be interested.

Something has been added....

The Genn Family History

This is detailed research that documents events as far back as the 11th century. Compiled by David Genn and other Genn family members over a period of years. This could be a novel.
Go to this page....Publications, Books and Links etc.
Remember that if a link does not work, (sometimes they just don't) COPY and PASTE to your browser.  OK, that doesn't always work either.

New on the Blog

Two books are now available online. In the Publications, Books and Links page you will see links to "The history of Royal Oak School" and "Life in Saanich Then and Now". Both are fascinating reading.

Reunion at Enid's August 2012.

Good weather, nice people, great food. Thanks Enid. Some photos are on the
"People, Places and Things" page.



This is one photo of 14.

An Important Day.

Today the first post was up loaded to our Page, "Those were the days...in writing from the kids who went to Royal Oak School."

Written by Renee (Heal) Sweeney, "The History Of a Pioneer Family" is about the Heals of Royal Oak from the 1850's to the 1960's.
It is an interesting blend of historical fact and personal recollections.
Renee hopes that readers who remember personal details relating to this post will add their comments.
The Heal property that is now the Normandy Road subdivision was one of my primary playgrounds as our property on Pipeline Road was adjacent. And I cannot imagine anyone forgetting Renee's braids.
I hope more of you will take some time to write a bit be it a single paragraph or more for this page. Personal remembrances in writing, photos or oral history videos are (to me) what the ROSY Blog is mainly about.
Now, move your mouse pointer to the right and click on the page title "Those were the days" and enjoy Renee's story.
I'll allow you a few days to complete your written assignments.

Who is this boy?

Taken at Royal Oak in the 1940's.

1985 Royal Oak High School Reunion

Today I uploaded the biographies that were assembled for this reunion. Have a look. It makes for interesting reading.  It is on the School Annuals/Reunions page.      Daryl.

First Grad class

Today I added the 1953 Graduation Annual for the new Royal Oak High School.

School Annuals.

Finally success. PDF file created, saved and linked to the School Annuals Page of the 1953 Royal Oak School Annual. This is the first annual printed at this new school.

Day 4.

There are now 9 pages and there is something on most  of them...although some of the content is not totally relevant to the Blog subject. That's OK. It serves as a demonstration of what is possible and that is the point of this approach. We have text, photos, video via link, embedded video and PDF files. Something for everyone eventually I hope. 
 Need a page to look up how to do all of these things. Don't think I will remember.

Maps

The aerial map is on it's page along with an index of who lived where for those we have identified.
A street map fom the '40's or '50's could be a good addition and useful for pinpointing who lived where while the aerial map is perhaps better for geographical features.