SOME REMEMBRANCES OF ANGUS SHELLEY

<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As you are probably aware, Duncan Angus Shelley, one of our classmates from the first year of Venture passed away on 25 January 2006, 
just three days after his sixty-ninth birthday. His official obituary is posted on this site and I will not repeat any of that. 
The purpose of this note is to remind everyone of why we held him in such affection and pass on a bit about his post-navy life.

<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Angus (few of us called him Duncan) was a boisterous, larger than life member of the famous class of thirteen Supply Officers and 
life around him was never dull. He was at the centre of every party and was always suggesting something new. He loved to gamble 
on anything from cockroach races in the ONTARIO, to football games (only the Edmonton Eskimos) to penny poker in Hochelaga.

Like a number of Naval Officers he found a bride at the Royal Jubilee School of Nursing in Victoria. In his case it was Norma 
Gildner, a good friend of my wife Barbara who also graduated from the Jubilee. Shortly after Barb and I were married I was posted 
to HMCS Swansea on the east coast. Our apartment was not yet ready so we temporarily moved in with Angus and Norma who lived with their 
dog Satan near the racetrack in Lower Sackville. For some reason Satan would drink only from the toilet and he loved to wake everyone 
up with a wet lick on the face while they were still in bed. Flushing the toilet was very important in that household!

<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Although Angus and Norma produced two charming daughters, they eventually split up but remained in contact. Norma continued in 
her nursing career and now lives at Fanny Bay on the Island. <br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Over the years Angus has lived in several homes in the Vancouver 
area, most recently in a very attractive condominium in Delta that was beautifully fitted out for living with a disability. 
He also had a second home on the waterfront on Gabriola Island. He was very proud of that place which he called “Clivewood” 
in memory of his hometown of Clive Alberta. 

<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Angus faced a number of challenges in his life, but by far the worst was a horrific automobile accident in the BC mountains 
a few years after he left the navy. It was only by a series of miracles that he survived the accident, but it left him a paraplegic 
for the rest of his life. A lesser person might have fallen into a much diminished lifestyle, but not our Angus. 
<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was fortunate 
enough to meet with him on many occasions in his post-navy life and he remained as full of enthusiasm (and maybe even a bit of BS?) 
as ever.

After Angus got through his post-accident therapy he obtained a somewhat menial  telephone expediting job with an industrial 
plumbing company. Over the years he built that modest start into a very important role in the management of the company and 
eventually became a part owner as both he and the company prospered in the boom years of Vancouver. He was also very active 
in organizations that provided assistance and support to persons with disabilities and he traveled extensively in that capacity.

<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Going out with Angus was always an adventure. I remember one occasion when we went out for dinner at an elegant spot (I think 
it was the rooftop restaurant at the Hyatt in Vancouver). It was hard not to notice our arrival, Angus was not quiet at the best 
of times and he had grown pretty large, and I was pushing the wheelchair. After he selected a table suitable for diners of our 
importance, the waiter came over and Angus ordered two double scotches on the rocks. After the waiter made it back to the bar to 
fill the order, Angus bellowed in a voice that could be heard for miles “Make sure its Chivas Regal buddy!” Things only became 
louder after that.

<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In more recent years Angus suffered from a number of illnesses, most of which were common to persons with his type of disability. 
Despite these health problems he remained enthusiastic and was always interested in hearing about his former Venture classmates. 
The last time I spoke to him was only a week or so before his death. He was a bit subdued however and his last remark to me was 
“At this stage, every day is a bonus!” I think that is how he lived his whole life and why we will continue to remember him with 
affection.

<br>
Cheers…John Murray