This Wednesday, I’ve arrived at a particular vocation milestone – 70 steady many years in journalism.
Last Wednesday, radio and television legend Frank Cameron retired soon after just about seven many years in the media.
The similarities in our occupations (in point, in our life) are lots of, just about uncanny.
We ended up equally born in 1938 at the previous Aberdeen Hospital on New Glasgow’s west aspect. We each grew up in the city, attending the identical universities.
In advance of our 10th birthdays, Frank was fantasizing about remaining a radio announcer, I was dreaming about creating sports.
Ahead of our teenage years, he was developing what he known as a scandal sheet, largely gossip about fellow learners and instructors. Concurrently, I was publishing a spouse and children newspaper highlighting the NHL and my grandmother’s bridge get-togethers.
When we were classmates at New Glasgow Significant, when a trainer requested for anyone to read a distinct subject matter aloud, Frank’s arm shot up like a rocket. I chosen sitting down in the again, trying to list the names of all NHL gamers.
Faculty athletic director John (Brother) MacDonald certain both equally of us to show up at rugby tryouts. We the two confirmed up. We the two give up immediately after two routines. But we were military cadets for 3 yrs.
In 1953 – exactly 70 a long time back – New Glasgow received a radio station.
In the evenings, soon after the proprietor went property, Frank was sneaking into the station to chat with announcers. I was sneaking in to get hockey scores off the teletype. When the manager returned, he would kick us out.
Brother bought me accomplishing announcing and scorekeeping at New Glasgow Stadium. He got Frank into refereeing.
In following-college several hours, Frank would go to McCarron’s downtown and try to eat fries with gravy. I’d get there and order fries with gravy. On Saturdays, we went to the Academy theatre to watch the cowboy videos.
I put in the previous a few yrs of the 1950s masking athletics for the Evening Information, then joined the Chronicle Herald in 1959, spending 48 many years with the provincial paper, typically in sporting activities. Just after “retirement” I took my column back to the News for 6 many years, then moved across the harbour to the Advocate 19 a long time ago.
Frank was an announcer at CKCL in Truro, went to CHNS Halifax, then to the CBC, back again to CHNS, and in latest many years was announcing at Seaside FM in Japanese Passage. He’s still remembered for Frank’s Bandstand on CBC-Television set.
In 2015, Frank authored I Owe It All to Rock & Roll. In 2016, I released I’ve Lived My Aspiration and, the upcoming year, I produced Remembering Pictou County.
What now for two 85-calendar year-olds?
Weeks in the past, Frank had major back surgery, followed by his selection to retire his microphone.
A remark Frank had in his book: “I loved my hometown, and I continue to have a comfortable place in my coronary heart for the folks of Pictou County.”
Certainly, even after 70 a long time, our emotions are identical.
