Lyrical Prelude

Alex B. Campbell Lyrical Prelude chapter two “The Child is father of the Man” William Wordsworth, The Rainbow, 1802 Lyrical Prelude ‘ ‘ Alex was a very inclusive kind of guy, right from the word go. People who know Alex Campbell intimately describe him in consistent terms. When asked about her husband’s character, Marilyn Campbell points to his Ken Grant, teenage friend of Alex Campbell “outgoing personality”, his “easy way with people” and his “sense of humour.” She adds that Alex “sometimes carries that a little too far with his practical jokes.”1 Campbell’s sisters Virginia and Harriet say their brother, whom they ‘‘ knew as “Sander” while growing up, was “always very, very fair.” Referring to an early family photo, they say it shows their brother Mel to be “energetic” and Alex “attentive.”2 “We always called him ‘lucky.’ If he’s driving through the village and his boat trailer unhooks, he just slows down and it catches up. He was always ready for an open door.” Campbell’s first-born son Blair recalls boat trips and pranks at the family’s Stanley Bridge cottage. During Christmas retreats to “Stanley,” the children looked forward to the opportunity to speak to Santa over the CB radio. They giggled at the qualified promise: “We’ll see what Santa can do.”3 Alex Campbell’s boyhood friends describe him as good natured and quiet, more likely to be listening than speaking. “You knew that when Alex had something to say, you listened,” says Wyman Miller, who threw second stone on Campbell’s 1952 schoolboy championship curling team. Wyman remembers Alex as “even-keeled.”4 Maynard Schurman, who started in grade one with Campbell and considered Alex his best friend: says “I watched him grow. Everybody loved him.”5 Paul H. Schurman says that “Alex was always jovial, a diplomat, never out of sorts with anyone.” George Dalton, who Alex Campbell, 10 months of age. was several years younger, recalls that he “enjoyed a form of quiet respect.”6 Alex Campbell, 27 years of age. Campbell’s 1952 high school yearbook The Emblem describes “Oop” as “tall, dark and handsome,” and includes a futuristic sketch referring to members of the graduating class, one of them being “Chief Justice Campbell.” 16 17 Alex B. Campbell Lyrical Prelude Lineage and other business ventures, including a Summerside liquor store and travel Alexander Bradshaw Campbell was born on December 1, 1933. On the face of agency operated by Alex’s grandfather Sandy. it, this was not an auspicious time to be delivered into the world. Canada and Alex’s mother Cecilia (Bradshaw) Campbell also came from an early the global economy were in the depths of the Great Depression, which would colonial family. Her Bradshaw ancestors moved to New Brunswick from be followed in quick succession by the Second World War. Notwithstanding Massachusetts in the eighteenth century and became shipbuilders. Harrison the troubles in the larger universe, for the young Alex Campbell this was Bradshaw, Cecilia’s grandfather Harrison Bradshaw set up a medical practice a lyric time – to grow up as a good-natured, well-intentioned, active and in New Glasgow, PEI in the mid-1800s. Her father Melville Bradshaw moved by-times mischievous youth in Summerside, PEI. to Summerside where he worked in the coal business of Joseph Read & Co., As Prince Edward Islanders might put it, Alex Campbell “came from and would marry Read’s niece Aletha and take over management of the good stock.” His parents Thane A. and Cecelia Campbell were both natives business when Joseph Read was elected as Liberal MP for Prince County in of Summerside and descended from established Island families. Thane 1917. Cecilia Bradshaw attended Acadia University, where she studied home Campbell was a scholar. He won the Governor General’s medal at Prince economics while excelling at basketball and expanding her interest in fine of Wales College and obtained two masters degrees, first from Dalhousie arts. Upon graduation, “Cec,” as she was generally known, worked for a time University and a second one from Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where in Rhode Island in the 1920s before returning to her native Summerside he was a Rhodes Scholar. Thane taught languages for a brief period at Ridley where she and Thane Campbell were married on February 28, 1930. College in Ontario before returning home to Summerside, where he read law with former PEI Premier A.C. Saunders. By the time Alex was born, his Home Life father was a Liberal MLA for the 1st Prince district, elected in 1931, and was Thane and Cecilia Campbell established their Summerside home at the corner considered an up-and-comer on the opposition benches. of Winter and Summer Streets, in the “Fanning House” that had been the In July 1935, before Alex turned two, the Island Liberals won an historic home of Alex’s grandparents Sandy and Clara (Webster) Campbell. It was in electoral victory, capturing all 30 seats in the provincial legislature, the first this home that Alex’s older sister Virginia was born in 1931. Alex followed in “clean sweep” election in the British Empire. Liberal leader Walter Lea 1933 and his brother Melville, known as “Mel,” arrived in December 1934, was ill throughout the election, making only one public appearance. Thane just twelve months younger than Alex. Their youngest sibling, Harriet, was Campbell was considered to be the deputy leader during the campaign born in 1940. and following Lea’s death in early 1936 Campbell became premier. He The Campbell family was tightly-knit. Alex and Mel were as close as served for two terms before stepping down to become chief justice of PEI brothers can be. They were near enough in age and size for their mother in 1943, an office that he would hold for twenty-seven years. Prior to to transport them in a double pram and dress them as twins. Alex and Mel becoming chief justice, Thane Campbell maintained his legal practice in often wore matching outfits, such as sailor suits, and entered grade one in the Summerside. He also served as secretary-treasurer and manager of the PEI same year. Cec Campbell made sure her children were “well turned out” and Mutual Insurance Company, a role that had been filled by his father Alexander ran the family home with a creative flair. Thane added linguistic playfulness, “Sandy” Campbell going back to the insurance company’s founding in the referring to the boys as the “boogies” or “boogie bimbos” and the girls as the 1880s. “girlies.” Even the family cars had names, such as “Bluebell,” as the Campbells’ Alex’s earliest Campbell ancestor on PEI arrived in 1775. James C. Plymouth sedan was known. Campbell, a native of Perthshire, Scotland, emigrated on the ship Elizabeth, Alex was known as “Sander” at home, unless he was in trouble, in which which was caught in a storm and shipwrecked on near-shore sandbars as it case he was “Alexander.” It was not until school years that he was known as approached New London harbour. All passengers save one made it safely Alex. As an adolescent he had the nickname “Alley Oop,” which was generally to shore. James C. Campbell married Eliza Townsend; they and their shortened to “Oop,” after a popular cartoon caveman. At home Mel was descendants became involved in farming, shipbuilding, politics, insurance known as “Beb.” Along with the linguistic inventiveness in the Campbell 18 19 Alex B. Campbell Lyrical Prelude Alex Campbell has fond memories of his early years and family life: “I could not have chosen better parents and siblings. In spite of difficult times, my early life was comfortable and full of adventure and discovery. Mel was my constant companion. We were close enough in age to share common interests and friends. We also suffered bouts of ear aches and knew the comfort of our mother’s arms and favourite rocking chair.” For the Campbell children, life in Summerside revolved around home, school, church and winter activities, such as building snow forts, taking rides on Mr. Walker’s milk sleigh, or Mel and Alex going off in search of the family Christmas tree. Christmas was a highlight; everyone contributed to making the Campbell home one of the best decorated in town. There was always a steady flow of friends and visitors. Weather permitting, they maintained a backyard rink. The family barn was a popular centre of activity, including a boxing area and a supply of costumes and clothing. Both Campbell parents encouraged the children in music. Cec Campbell Virginia, Thane, Mel, Alex, Harriett and Cecilia Campbell – Christmas 1940. played the piano and enjoyed singing. Thane took the boys along to practices of a community male chorus. Alex recalls that his father loved to sing. Thane Campbell had a distinctive bass voice read music well, and could play the piano. He was a long-standing member of the choir at Trinity United in household there was precision about language. Thane Campbell would Summerside, where Alex would later sing. Alex says his father was a very protest highway signs reading “drive slow” and playfully chastise the children for using the one-word expression “perfect,” insisting “there is no such thing as ‘perfect.’” Meals commenced with an abbreviated version of the Latin grace given at Corpus Christi College. Thane Campbell regularly offered greetings in Gaelic at Scottish cultural events. Cecilia Campbell was creative and artistic, a collector of decorative arts, glass, textiles, ceramics and period furniture. She was a well-appreciated cook and ran a lively household. Outside the home, she was active in Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire and Girl Guide circles and encouraged women’s involvement in curling.

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