Remembering our past Peter & Beryl Ascott

John Godsman

Times Contributor

 

Peter Ascott was born in Devon on the Southwest Coast of England on Nov. 11, 1935, whereas Beryl was born in Southern Rhodesia in 1942. They met at a wedding in Rhodesia in 1959, and were married on Nov. 11 (Rememberance Day) 1961. This has become a special day for them throughout their lives, as you can read it is Peter’s birthday, their Wedding Anniversary and it is Remembrance Day in Canada. They continued to live in Rhodesia for another 13 years, where Peter became a diesel automotive electrician, specializing in fuel injection engines. Meanwhile, Beryl learned and became a proficient tennis player, whilst bringing up their two daughters. When the troubles started in Rhodesia in the 1970’s, they decided to attempt to immigrate to Canada. Friend Kit Farran had visited Southern Rhodesia in the 1960’s, and advised them that if they ever decided to immigrate to Canada, Strathmore was the place to live. 

To get to Canada, they first had to emigrate to England where they spent six months in Bath, then they were allowed to immigrate to Canada in 1975. On arrival in the west, they came straight to Strathmore and purchased the house they still live in. Their marriage produced two daughters, who in turn have provided three grandchildren, all living locally.

Peter worked for Prudential Steel in Calgary, as a heavy-duty mechanic. He advises he only missed one day at work there, due to weather. At one time, he was Secretary of The United Steel Workers of Canada Union. Beryl was an RNA and has spent 27 years at Strathmore Hospital.

The main reason they moved here was because it was a small town, population was 1,100, in 1975. Additionally, both daughters were interested in horses and riding.

Both Peter and Beryl have been very involved in activities around town from the very start. Before leaving Southern Rhodesia, Peter had built two swimming pools, and on arrival here he took over running the town pool for two years. This old pool was located where Dairy Queen now stands. He became chairman of the tennis club, and built a new tennis court, working with Rob Prosser and Bud Newton. He has served with the Development Appeal Board, Strathmore Library Board, Food Bank, Christmas Hamper Society, Covenant Bible College, Rosebud Theatre and was a board member of Strathmore Co-op. Beryl worked with the Brownies, the Girl Guides, Crisis Shelter, had her own store for three years called Jacaranda Junior’s, is on the board of Camp Chestermere, and has been Chairman for five years of The Christian Alliance Women’s Association.

There have been many changes in this area over the past 36 years. Of note, is the fact that when they arrived in Strathmore in 1975, Main Street still had boardwalks and horse hitching posts! The TransCanada highway was a regular two-lane road, until the mid-1980’s when it was twinned.