My first meeting with the Ratcliffe family was Christmas 1974 in St. John’s NL. My parents had moved that year to the island and I was visiting. We went to their home where I met Bill and Marion and their three kids, Wilf, Barb and Carolyn. They had just come home from serving in Pakistan, which I had little awareness or understanding of.

In 1981 we went to CFOT to begin our training to be officers and Wilf was in our session. He is a talented musician and was often involved on the piano. After two years we went off to our first appointments and we would see each other occassionally. Bill and Marion served in Canada until their return to Pakistan until the Taliban chased them out.

Bill in retirement worked for us during our 7 years at Glenmore Temple and they were both always great support. Now we are both retired officers living in Alberta and we see each other from time to time.

So I was very interested to see this plaque on the wall in Edmonton Temple. So I took a picture of it and sent it to Wilf, who now goes by Wil. This is his great grandparents and he sent back this picture.

This is from 1925 and here are his great-grandparents and grandparents. He said his great-grandfather was in the cavalry in WW1 and later was the bandmaster here in Edmonton. Interesting eh?