Published by North Shore News from Jun. 15 to Jul. 14, 2022.

 

Ted Willcox

Memories of my good friend Bobby Caldwell

I received a phone call on June 2nd from my good friend Jim Dickie, informing me of the sad news that we have lost another of our good friends, Bob Caldwell. Sad news indeed.

I first met Bobby at Sutherland Junior High, grade 7. At that time he lived on Adderley Street, Adderley is one of those streets that angles off of Keith road hill.

He later moved to 13th street, which was a good move for us. Dave Naylor lived on one end of the block and Bobby on the other. Jack Bergen was just down around the corner on 12th, and I was down around the corner on 11th street, all in close walking distance from each other.

Bobby and I became close friends, enjoying the company of each other from grade 7 right through to grade twelve. We started doing things together, one of the first things I remember we did was join the Table Tennis Club. We became interested in table tennis watching our teacher Gerry Addy and a friend of his putting on a table tennis exhibition at one of the school assemblies, I believe they did two of them while we were at Sutherland. I believe at that time they were two of the best players in Canada. It was amazing to watch these two play, they were so good. We entered a tournament even though we were both new at the game. I got knock out, I think, in the first round, surprisingly, or maybe not, Bob made it to the semi finals, barely getting beaten by one of the favourites.

Bobby had his quirks, two of them come to mind. Bob had a beautiful 1950 Ford, black in colour. I remember getting into it for the first time, Bob was going to take me for a ride, he started the car, and after a few minutes I said, something wrong, he said no, just warming it up, after several more minutes I said, are we ready, he said no, a couple more minutes yet. I might be exaggerating but it felt like a ten minute warm up. He also drove it quite slow, and if we came to a bump and he couldn't go around, he would really slow it down. Bobby like to look after things he owned. The other quirk was his shoes he had this pair of shoes, that he kept polished to the hilt. They had a somewhat high heel, I think they were called Cubans, he loved those shoes. One day they got wet so he put them beside a heater to dry them and he forgot to remove them, the heat had ruined them, he told me the next day the shoes were ruined, he was heart broken over the demise of his shoes, I chuckle when I think of it, it wasn't funny, but it was, you know what I mean. (smile) I am chuckling now as I think of it.

Bobby was an excellent athlete he excelled at every sport he played. I remember like it was yesterday going to Mahon park to watch him play baseball. I was absolutely blown away at how good he was. He had such good moves when he played, that he could pick up those difficult grounders, fire the ball to first base, and make it look so easy, and let me tell you it ain't easy.

When Bill Wedley said Bob was an All star, Bill was right, Bob was an All star, and more then that!
A few years after school Bob and I drifted apart as life got in the way, as it sometimes can. But Bob was always on my mind, as I would believe I was on his. You just don't forget a friendship as good and as close as we had. I will never forget Bob, he will always be with me!

Ted
P.S. I have posted 4 photos, they are in my gallery, have a look.

 

Marg (Dance) Chalmers

Ted, thanks so much for the memories and the photos. Memories of special friends are so important. Marg

Bill Wedley

Ted. There is a story of how Bob gained his “all star” designation.

In 1952, we were both playing for the North Vancouver Little League All Star team against the Vancouver all-stars. We were both infielders -- Bob the second baseman while I was the shortstop. As a Little Leaguer shortstop, I often dreamed of a sharp grounder to second, the second baseman fielding it and sharply flipping it to second, where I as the shortstop would touch the bag and throw to first to complete the double play.

With a player on first, there was a sharp ground ball to second that Bob fielded cleanly. I had moved to second to receive his throw. To my dismay Bob did not even look in my direction. He had other plans. He tagged the player running to second and threw to first base to complete the double play without my involvement. My initial deflation immediately turned to elation. Bob was not only a talented athlete but also a very smart one.

He proved he was an all-star! Seventy years later, that incident remains vivid in my old mind.

 

Ted Willcox

I get up around 4:30 am, have a coffee, and read a bit, and then take my dog Darwin for his morning walk. As I was doing this, this morning, I thought of something I would like to add to my memories of my good friend Bob.

Addendum
I went to Bob's home once for dinner. It was the first time I had pheasant, and the last, it was also the first time I had Yorkshire Pudding, but not the last, it was all very good.
Bob and his younger brother Dave called their Mom, affectionately, George, I can't remember why it was George, or if there was any reason why it was George, but I thought it was cute. Her name was Edith.
Bob's Mom was a wonderful person, I liked her very much!
Ted