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Event Date : Monday, October 06, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Norman (Dodger) Collings, whose life spanned the fields of sports, farming and community involvement, died at the age of 65 Monday after a short illness in Chedoke Hospital, Hamilton. Mr. Collings was born in Bradford and educated at the local public and high school. After finishing high school, he began a professional hockey career. During that career, he played with a number of American minor league teams as well as the old New York Americans and Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. He also played on a West Toronto Memorial Cup championship team. Mr. Collings was renowned locally for his athletic ability and, as well as being an accomplished hockey player, he was active in lacrosse, curling and golf. Before joining the management of Hardee Farms and Federal Diversiplex in the mid-sixties, Mr. Collings worked as a market gardener on land he owned in the Holland Marsh. In 1965 he joined Hardee Farms and in 1970 was appointed vice-president and general manager of the Bradford plant's operations. Always enthusiastic, Mr. Collings also involved himself deeply in the community. He was a member and past president of the Bradford Lions Club and an Elder in the United Church. He served as the town's volunteer fire chief, succeeding his father who had held the post before him. For a number of years, Mr. Collings was a member of the Bradford Village Council and was a former member and chairman of the Bradford and District Community Centre Board. His works in the community brought Mr. Collings the respect and esteem of the community at large. While active in his community, Mr. Collings was an unassuming man. He was known to most people by the nickname Dodger, which he picked up during his sports career. Mr. Collings is survived by his wife for more than 40 years, Jean; his son, Tom, now a county engineer in Stratford; his daughter Mary Jane Buyers, now living in Melbourne, Australia, and seven grandsons. Mr. Collings is resting in the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home in Bradford. Funeral services will be held at the Bradford United Church Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Interment will be in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Retiring After 31 Years Brings Her Mixed Emotions
By John Slykhuis

After 31 years of teaching about 1,000 pupils at Bradford Public School, Barbara Stewart is retiring at the end of this school year. It's a thought that brings a mixture of emotions for her. One one hand is the anticipation of doing the things she has been dreaming of for years: travelling extensively in winter and relaxing at her cottage in Minden in summer. On the other hand: "I'm going to miss the children," she admits, "And the staff too. I have many good friends here." Her last class, she says, is particularly special. "I'm really enjoying this last class. This is one of the nicest classes I've ever taught." This Grade 3 class, like the one she started with in 1941, is small and close, almost like a family. She had 13 children to teach in a small one room schoolhouse in Markham Township that first year, and they represented all eight grades. Five years later, she started at the old Bradford Public School, and she has been here ever since. There are so many memories here for Miss Stewart that it is difficult for her to pick out any one, but one does stand out in her mind. Several years ago, the Lions Club of Bradford brought over a crippled girl from India, Vanita Khubchandi, to have an operation at Sick Children's Hospital in Toronto. While here, she attended Miss Stewart's Grade 7 class. "She came every morning in an ambulance on a stretcher. She had to lie flat on her back all the time...The children really took to her." Then the day arrived for her operation. "The biggest thrill was the day she walked back into the classroom. Oh, the children were so excited. They had a party for her." Miss Stewart still hears from her occasionally and reports that she is walking well and has just finished high school. There are other memories too: walking through snow bank in the early years only to find out when she arrives that the school was closed; teaching her favorite subject, music; and taking the girls' choir to Newmarket where it won first prize. She taught a huge 45-pupil Grade 4-5 class a few years ago ("that was the most challenging and the most rewarding"), and watched the growth of children just arrived from other countries ("It was most rewarding to see them learn the language and go on to do well"). And what about the modern school system? "Well, I approve of the new standard of reporting the progress of a child. But I would far sooner talk to the parents. It's better than any report card. You find out so much more about the child." She adds however, "I believe in marking. I don't see how you can teach without it." Home for Miss Stewart is Markham, where she spends every weekend with her family, and until recently she was the organist at the Markham Presbyterian Church. "I retired as the organist last June. I guess you could say I'm tearing up all my roots...no, routines. I'm tearing up all my old routines." Although she is leaving Bradford for good at the end of this school year, Miss Stewart has reassured her friends that she will be coming back often to visit.

"Whipper Billy Watson (standing fifth from the left) attended a meeting of the Bradford Lions Club last week to thank some of the people who helped run the Snowarama which raised about $60,000 for crippled children in February. Five hundred and seventy snowmobiles were involved in the event on Lake Simcoe and 100 people helped organize it. Plaques expressing the gratitude of the Ontario Society For Crippled Children (OSCC) were handed out to representatives of nine clubs. Kneeling, left to right: Sue Brower of OSCC, Colleen Townsend of the Aurora Snowmobile Club, and Hank Lapierre of Keswick, York-Simcoe Radio Club. Standing: Bill Melbourne of Bradford, Bill Trent of Aurora, Bernard Horne, president of the Bradford Lions, Tony Townsend of Aurora, Whipper Billy, George Jackson of the Bradford Lions, Jim Derry of the Bradford Snowmobile Club, Cec Smith of the Orangeville and District Snowmobile Club, Terry Davis of Bradford, Frank Crisologo of Keswick and the Georgina Trail Riders, and Wes Styles of the York-Simcoe Radio Club."

"The Bradford Lions club moved the top prize for their annual September 12 draw along Holland Street early Tuesday morning. The cessna airplane is now on view at the Red and White shopping plaza and tickets can be purchased from any Lions member. The mammoth draw also includes Cadillac and cash prizes."

"The Bradford Lions Club installed its new executive on Monday for the upcoming year. Front row, from left: Jack Armstrong, second vice-president; John Rutherford, president; Bernard Horne, past president; Gerard Van Albeek, first vice-president; Gerry Barker, third vice-president. Second row: George Jackson, director; Jim Swan, secretary; Bill Melbourne, director; Fred Dow, Lion hunter; George Fabing, assistant tail twister; Joe Vanderlinde, director; Bill Lotto, director; Bob Hardy, treasurer; Ron Coffey, Lion tamer; Ted Van Kuik, tail twister; Ron Wysinski, assistant secretary; George Robertson, director; Eric Hall, bulletin editor; and Keith Noble, director."

"Bradford Salad Festival organizer Leo Kleiss said yesterday that pre-sale of tickets for the festival are going well and he expects that very few will be left by the time the festival gets underway. Advertising and community bulletins should bring people from all over Southern Ontario and the estimate is that up to 15,000 people will attend. Area motels and hotels have been booked for the past two months. Last week the Bradford Rotary Club issued a challenge to the Bradford Lions Club to participate in what should be one of the funniest moments of the festival - donkey baseball. The Lions have accepted the challenge and the event will be staged Sunday, July 18. In addition, the Big A Amusements will be opening their variety of carnival rides and games on Tuesday, July 13 to run through until the following Sunday at 6 p.m. Tickets for all the events including the teen dance, salad feast and the baseball games can be purchased at the Festival office in the old Bank of Commerce building at the corner of Barrie and Holland St."

"Dunnville used car dealer Robert Rowe won the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado at the annual Lions Club car draw Monday night. A capacity crowd remained past midnight to watch as the tickets on the board dwindled, drawing ever closer to the big prize. The happy owner of the new Cadillac had his ticket drawn last in the elimination contest. The draw was a huge success for the Bradford Lions, and the event is rapidly becoming one of the social highlights of the year. All proceeds from the draw will go to the Bradford Lions Pool."

"Three Lions guard the gate to Bradford's new tennis courts after the finishing tough to the court, a plaque, was put in place recently. President of the Bradford Lions, Jim Dodds, bears a racquet with past president, Waldie Crossland and Mayor Joe Magani, who is also a member of the Lions. Lights at the court now shine from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the benefit of night players."

Volunteers handing out meals and clothing for those relocated by the Holland Marsh flood after Hurricane Hazel hit the area. Helping serve the food are Mrs. C.J. Bowden, Mrs. Ben Steers, B.M. Evans, and G.E. Boyd.