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Hilda Margaret (Quinton) Puddicombe celebrated her 90th birthday with friends and family on January 22, 2000 at the Nithview Village Auditorium. The image at left shows Hilda with her ubiquitous beverage -- tea, tea and more tea. Click on the image to see an album of pictures from the event.
Hilda had moved from Fernye Bank (Haysville) to a ground floor two bedroom apartment unit at the Nithview Retirement Community (New Hamburg) in 1982. The party and auditorium was in the building next door.
I recall that Hilda was a little reluctant to have a party and had only agreed at the insistence of Jean Pitts and Kate. However, when I look at the pictures from that time it's clear that Hilda in fact had several parties -- this perhaps being the biggest one. And many friends, including Kate and me, had taken her out to dinner at the Waterlot restaurant in the days and weeks around the party! There was quite a deal made out the occasion. But then Hilda was a special person.
My father, Maurice Watson Quinton, who would have been 86 in April of that year, was her only sibling still living. He gave a short speech at the party. Her husband Reginald T. Puddicombe (after whom I am named) had died in 1974 at 81 years of age. She was much younger than Reg and they famously had a very long courtship before they married in 1938.
Kate and I wrote a couple of short songs for Hilda having learned the hard way that brevity really is the soul of wit. The first was to the tune of "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" and went like this:
Let's sing happy birthday, we're so proud of you.We're so very grateful for the things you do.You're so kind and thoughtful and a friend so true.Have you ever noticed that we all love you!!
The second, to the tune of the Beatle's song "Let It Be", pokes fun at her tea habit and went like this:
If you find yourself in times of troubleHilda P. will comfort youSpeaking words of wisdom (and)"Have some tea, have some tea."
The posters on the wall of the auditorium (photos of them are in the album) give an abbreviated timeline of Hilda's life. The posters were prepared from a diary she had kept since the 1930's. A more detailed version of her history is in my blog for Hilda's 100th birthday. Clearly, Hilda had an interesting life and many friends who loved her dearly.
There are a lot of people in these photos that I don't know, never did. If you can identify anyone please leave your comment on the photos.
[2020/10/28] scanned images are from an old photo album of Hilda's that was prepared by "Paul & Max".
