George H. Cuthbertson Archives

     As mentioned before George H. Cuthbertson was not successful in convincing his mother to allow him to work in a J.J. Taylor Boatworks at the age of 14.  But he was able to get her permission to apply to the Junior Club at R.C.Y.C. He was soon off to meet with Mr. Norman Tytler, chairman of the Junior Club Committee.  It so happened Mr. Tytler had known Grandfather, had heard of his passing  and put the wheels in motion to allow Dad to join the Junior Club.

     In the first year, G.H.C. won the Gooderham Trophy for “ the newcomer who had made the most progress in seamanship and proficiency in his first year.”  Father had just sailed Aykroyds one summer  in 1942 at Camp Ahmek.  By the end of his third year, he was Fleet Captain and awarded the Silver Burgee by vote of the Junior Club sailors.

     And to quote from one of the articles from the time, “Brantford friends are well aware of George’s flair for all things pertaining to the navy.  Although living in the inland City of Brantford, boats and ships were ever uppermost in his mind, and his elders were amazed at his wide and accurate naval knowledge for a lad of his years.

     And they had only an inkling of what we were all to receive.