Remembering our roots ~Brian & Yvonne Duke

Times Contributor

 

Brian’s family, including his father, moved from England to Canada in 1906, originally settling in Elkhorn, Man. where they purchased a farm. In England they had owned and operated the company Duke & Son, which originated in 1760 in Penshurst, a village in the Sevenoaks district of Kent. This company manufactured cricket balls and bats, and continued in this business until 1995. 

The family lived and farmed in Elkhorn for six years, but following grandfather’s death in 1912, while on a business trip to England before the start of WW1, they sold the farm and moved to Winnipeg. Brian’s father and brother served in the Canadian Army in WW1. His father lost a leg in the first battle at Ypres, Belgium, and his brother lost the use of his left arm. Brian was born in Winnipeg on March 26, 1930 and had three sisters and a brother. All but his younger sister have predeceased him. He attended Luxton Elementary School in Winnipeg, which was built by the same family that built the Luxton Museum in Banff. Then, he attended St John’s Technical High School through Grade 12, before moving to Calgary in 1950.

Yvonne (Gowan) great, great-grandparents were Huguenots, and descendants moved to Chicago in 1882, then to Maple Creek and Piapot, Sask. in 1913, where they homesteaded until 1914.

Readers might be interested to know that Huguenots were members of the Protestant Reformed Church of France during the 16th and 17th centuries. Following religious persecutions in the early 18th century, most fled to Protestant Nations in Europe, South Africa and English Colonies in North America, which were willing to accept them. Yvonne was born in Maple Creek, Sask. on June 11, 1929, and had three sisters. All three sisters have predeceased her. She attended Higher Piapot Elementary School in Saskatchewan, followed by high school in Red Deer, and then took nursing training at Red Deer Provincial Training School, which is now known as the Michener Centre. In 1947, at the age of 18, she was badly injured in a car accident, and spent the next three years in hospital. She met Brian on a blind date at a Christmas Party in Calgary in 1950, which was set up by one of Brian’s co-workers.

 They married on Nov. 24, 1951 and have two sons, and three grandchildren. They have a granddaughter living in Australia and completing her M.D. at Brisbane Medical University.

Initially, Brian worked as a diesel mechanic for four years with the road construction company – Mannix Construction. But, they were newly married, and the work took him far and wide from Calgary, to places like Valleyview, Grande Prairie and Whitecourt. So, they purchased a holiday trailer, which would allow Yvonne to go with him. But, roads in those days were not like today’s, as they soon found out, it was impossible to tow the trailer, and crossing the rivers by cat train was also impossible. 

He resigned from Mannix, returned to Calgary, and went to work for Canadian Pacific Airlines as an aircraft engineer. From 1954 to 1964, during The Commonwealth Pilot Training program he worked in Lethbridge and MacDonald, Man. on RCAF Jet Fighters. They returned to Calgary in 1964, and for the next 14 years lived in the Acadia area. Brian updated all his mechanic licenses, including aircraft maintenance engineer, Alberta Journeyman’s Automotive, heavy duty diesel, and transport refrigeration. During this time, he coached Little League baseball – a skill he had learnt while working in Lethbridge and MacDonald. He also refereed hockey, was a scout leader, and chairman of Cub and Scout groups. As the treasurer of Acadia Community Centre, Yvonne became involved in the fundraising for the building of the Twin Arenas, now known as Calgary Acadia Recreation Centre. She also assisted in catering for weddings, etc and became the Sunday School superintendent at McDougall United Church.

While living in Lethbridge, he and Yvonne took up square dancing. An activity they enjoyed throughout the rest of their lives. The thrill of their lifetime was square dancing in the Opening Ceremonies of The 15th Winter Olympic Games at McMahon Stadium in February 1988 with 958 other square dancers. As a result of learning to square dance, Brian learnt to be a caller, and became a DJ with Disco Dukes, with Yvonne and later his two sons, Barry and Tim, providing music for weddings and parties, etc for the next 40 years. 

After joining Cominco at the Carseland Plant in 1978, they moved to Strathmore where they joined the Wheatland Whirlers Square Dance Club. At this time the population was around 2,900. In 1988, Cominco was taken over by another company, and he was laid off. From then until retirement in 2010, he worked at different oilfield compressor stations in and around Strathmore.

Brian served on Strathmore Board of Directors for YDC,- the Youth Development Centre, and Yvonne volunteered at extended care  centre in the Strathmore Hospital from 1985 to 1993. They are both members of Strathmore United Church. On Nov. 21, 1995 Brian, George Pinchbeck, and Donelda Snyder opened the first youth club in Strathmore called ‘The Loft’ located on the 2nd floor of Hilton Plaza. Brian and The Disco Dukes, provided the music. The club closed three years later, after the provincial government withdrew funding. 

They’re very proud of their children and grandchildren, who have been very successful in their chosen careers. 

When I enquired what changes they’d seen in the last 34 years, both commented that the downtown businesses were the hub of activity for all town and farm people. Things have certainly changed since they moved here 35 years ago, and they both said how much they’ve enjoyed living here. Additionally, Brian stated “The train no longer comes past our house!”