FRANK EDWIN WRIGHT

FRANK EDWIN WRIGHT 1917 ­ 2006 GRAND OLD MAN OF RUGBY Frank Edwin Wright of Calgary passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at the age of 88 years. 'I was born and raised in King Williams Town, South Africa, which was founded by the 1820 British soldiers on the banks of the Buffalo River. It was an ideal spot with plenty of water, lumber and blue granite. I remember the Holy Trinity Church so well. It is still a majestic structure, well over 150 years old. There I attended Sunday School and eventually became confirmed. How I liked to go to King's market and buy some nice fresh cream to go with the abundance of fresh fruit that supplemented the great variety that grew in our own back garden. There were grapes, guavas, custard apples, figs and pomegranates. We grew everyday vegetables like potatoes, carrots, cabbage and nice lettuce. It was so that one could plant all year around, a good life, indeed. I am proud to have attended Dale College as a 'day pot' meaning a local resident and that is where I developed my love of rugby. It seemed all too soon after graduating from Dale that we found ourselves in uniform and in the Middle East in North Africa. We endured some trying times during 4 years in POW camps, first under Italian command and then German. After the war, I was sent to London where I met a beautiful Canadian woman, Irma Toth. I was successful in persuading her to follow me to South Africa where we were married. We had three children: Frances (Richard Pootmans), Kay and Les (Verna). As my wife pined for her beloved Canada, we decided to move, arriving here in the fall of 1953.' Shortly after arriving, several like-minded rugby aficionados got together, placed an ad in the newspaper and were able to locate enough 'foreigners' to form two sides. Rugby was officially introduced to Calgarians! Dad spent his entire life playing and working in various capacities on the local, provincial and national level to promote and grow the game he so dearly loved. A cub leader, the treasurer and enthusiastic campaigner for many years of both provincial and federal Liberal constituencies and candidates, a member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and also a recipient of the Queen's Jubilee Medal. Father also enjoyed golf and curling and the time spent with his colleagues at B.A. Oil and Gulf Oil. He was an accomplished writer, the author of many stories and poems penned for the amusement of his rugby buddies. Although he would not win any awards for his vocal performances (other then for his enthusiasm), he loved to sing. He was a good husband, a kind father and the proud grandfather of Becky and Adam. The loss of Irma in October 2003 was eased by the new family of friends he developed at the Manor at Garrison Woods where he resided for the past several years. He valued these friendships and the camaraderie to the end. He will be greatly missed by family, including Alice and Fred Crick, and Peg and Rod Rodway, his large and beloved `Bokkie' family and his many friends world wide. A Celebration of Life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY'S, Park Memorial Chapel (5008 Elbow Drive S.W.) on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. Our thanks to the wonderful paramedics, his doctors and nurses in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at the Foothills Medical Centre and Dr. Kozak at the Rockyview General Hospital. In living memory of Frank Wright, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W., Calgary, AB T2S 2L5. Telephone: (403) 243-8200.