Remembering our roots ~ Alan and Marlene Faint

John Godsman
Times Contributor

 

The surname Faint has been traced back to the days of Napoleon in the late 1700’s. Moving ahead we find Alan’s great-grandfather living in London, England in the mid-1800’s. His father, William Arthur Faint, was born in London in 1904, and was known as a ‘Tally Man,’ who today would be similar to a Sears catalogue salesman, on foot. His father became a police officer during WW2, but only because the authorities dropped the minimum height by one inch. At 5ft 10in he had been rejected for becoming a po-lice officer, but during the war, they reduced the height to 5ft 10in and he now became eligible! How many of my readers know a special pocket was sewn into the uniform trousers for securing a truncheon?
Alan was born Jan. 27, 1931, the first of two brothers, within the sound of Bow Bell, in the City of Lon-don. As with his forefathers, he would become known as a ‘cockney!’
At age four, he started school and lived in London throughout the war. He remembers being evacuated eight times, and attending eight different schools. At age 16, he left school and became a trainee draughtsman with Morphy-Richards, the people who manufactured irons, toasters, ding dong chimes, and other small appliances. At age 18, he was called up for National Service and spent the next two years serving as a telecommunications mechanic with the British Army. After being demobilized, he trained as a tech teacher, then as a teacher/librarian, retiring in1982.
Marlene Walker’s family originated in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Her father was a local government em-ployee responsible for wholesale and retail markets, including being a consultant on rebuilding markets across Europe following the war. Marlene was born in Romford, Essex on Feb. 22, 1935, the elder of two sisters. Her father’s job meant the family was often on the move, and she started school in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in Northumberland, then graduated in Coventry. After graduation from high school at age 18, she attended Teacher’s College in London to become a phys ed teacher, which she enjoyed for a number of years, before becoming a teacher in elementary school, then principal in 1980.
Alan and Marlene met at a dance while attending the Teacher’s College in London, and they were married on April 13, 1957 in Coventry. Their first children were two daughters who moved to Calgary in the 80’s, followed by two sons, one also living in Calgary, and the other in South Africa. They also have seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Alan had retired in 1982, and after Marlene retired in 1988, they decided to emigrate to Calgary to join their two daughters. Soon after arriving Alan experienced three heart attacks, severe enough that he was advised by the medical staff to take care of his affairs as it was unlikely he would live longer than three months! That was 28 years ago!
When they lived in England, they served with Scouts and Girl Guides, (Alan was a King’s Scout and Marlene a Queens Guide), eventually each became Commissioners. On arriving in Calgary, they joined the Ham Radio Association, eventually serving on the executive, and each having stints as president.
From their previous lives, it was natural for them to spend their years teaching for this association. Marlene was also a White Hatter at Calgary International Airport. They became volunteers with Renfrew United Church, and after spending the summer of 2000 camping on a friend’s acreage in Carseland, re-turned to Calgary, sold their house, and moved to Carseland in 2001. For the last 15 years, they have worked as librarians for Carseland Community Library, and Marlene is the rental coordinator for the community association as well as being a member of the board.
Every November, they are responsible for Remembrance Day services, which includes obtaining dona-tions to the Poppy Fund from neighboring businesses and individuals. They are still as busy as ever and enjoying life as Canadians.