Neville” was my Dad’s kid brother but as my Grandmother died shortly after he was born, he was brought up by my Step-Grandmother. He is a bit of a mystery character and I hardly know anything about him. All I remember was he was very good looking, very popular with the girls, left home early and settled in the USA (at least partially in Florida). I have this picture when he was young man but I don’t know what year it was taken so you will have to guess his age.
“Bob” was the first son born to my Step-Grandmother but as he was only 14years older than me, I knew and liked him very much. He was always fond of boats and I remember he made wonderful models. He was a graduate mechanical engineerand was very good at fixing all kinds of engines.
I’m not sure what came first, Bob joining the Canadian Navy or his Dads company, Mainguys Ltd. Anyway, he came through the war unhurt and went to work for his Dad. As I mentioned earlier, Mainguys Ltd never did very well and Bob had a difficult time.
He married Caroline “Ella” Mackenzie in 1943 who was a nurse, and with their children built themselves a summer cottage on a small island they bought as one of the thousand islands in the St. Lawrence river near Gananogue,Ontario. (It is still called Mainguy island on the local maps), They loved the area and decided to buy a marina on the nearby mainland at Ivy Lee and start to rent houseboats for the tourists.
These were wonderful boats which could sleep six and had all the facilities for staying on board for a week. They used to lend me one every year and we have enjoyed many memorable trips with our friends visiting the many islands in the area..
Unfortunately, Bob was diagnosed much to late that he had stomach cancer and there was no hope of a cure. I spent a number of evenings with him on his boats and I always marveled at how well he accepted his situation.
Both Bob and Ella were always kind to me and both have a special place in my memories.
Unfortunately, I hardly remember “Pito” as they called him. As he was only two years younger than his brother Bob, I assume they spent much time together and I know he also liked boats and the sea. I have lots of pictures ofboth my uncles when they were boys at their country place at Pointe au Barril in the Georgian Bay as I mentioned in my Dad’s history. This is just one of them.
Peto also joined the navy during the 2 nd world war but hecontacted Hodginson disease and died at the early age of 23.
This last picture is of Bob and Pito with their mother sitting on the edge oftheir Dad’s yacht “Wyndora” which they both loved. It was taken in the summer of 1937 during the happy times before the war when they made many trips together
