Roy Hockings

Staff: 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79

The first week of November, Tom Childs (75-77) forwarded me a message that Roy Hockings (72-79) had passed away. Roy was the Director at HSR during my time at camp.

The first year that I worked there I had the job or reorganizing the old quartermasters shed, which chiefly consisted of dragging canvas tents out, drying them in the sun, folding them back up and putting them away again. Working by myself wasn’t much fun and it must have shown on my face.

Roy was the administrator that year and happened upon me in the middle of folding yet another tent and said “I know we all work pretty hard during pre-camp but once the campers arrive you should be able to slack off a bit”.

I’ve always remembered that moment where Roy took the time to offer encouragement to a 15-year-old that was having second thoughts about the “luxury” part of luxury in the wilderness!

Roy joined the Executive Staff in 1971. He was the Camp Administrator for 2 years 1972-73 and subsequently was the HSR Camp Director from 1974 – 1979. In 1982 he became the Director of Camping and in 1987 the Director of Special Events for GTR until 1989. Throughout the first half of the 1990’s, Roy served in various positions on the provincial council and retired in 1996. He continued to serve as a volunteer on the honours and awards committee until 2005. He was appointed Deputy Council Commissioner, Recognition in 2001.

All of us who knew Roy will miss him, and indeed the scouting moment has lost someone who gave so much time to it.

Mark Daly (73-78)