From the beginning

Robert William Service has a place in my family tree.   He is my fourth cousin, twice removed.   A few years ago, another family tree member in Australia told me I was related to this person.   Only recently have I done any research concerning Robert Service.   The net result has been to increase the entries in my family tree to over 1,000.   It has been a fascinating piece of research, conducted during an exacerbation of COPD that lasted two weeks.   Taking cortico steroids as part of my treatment meant finding myself sleepless during the night.   So I read up on Robert Service!

My name is Keith Alexander.   The Alexanders, from whom I am descended, came from Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland.   The Service family also hails from Kilwinning.   Robert was born in Preston, Lancashire, not that far from my home town of Nelson.   His father had been sent there to work in a local branch of the bank who employed him.   Three years after Robert's birth, Robert senior (Senior Service?) became an insurance agent.   Within a few years Robert was sent to live with his aunts back in Kilwinning where his grandfather was the local postmaster.   On his sixth birthday he was to compose the following Grace:

God bless the cakes and bless the jam;

Bless the cheese and the cold boiled ham:

Bless the scones Aunt Jeannie makes,

And save us all from bellyaches. Amen

 

 

When he left school he was given a post with the Commercial Bank of Scotland, now part of the Royal Bank of Scotland.   He was soon pursuing a career in a branch of the bank in Glasgow.   But he had itchy feet and started to look for pastures new.   Having decided to emigrate to Canada, he went to the office of his branch manager and told him of his plans.   His manage aid, "You know if you serve another forty years you may retire on  a pension?   I only wish I had your years lad.   Then, by God, I'd go along with you!"

 

For reasons that no one can tell, he made for the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island.   It wasn't the place one would expect a budding cowboy would choose.   From this point his life would become one of hardship and long hours of work, but he relished it.   Later he would endure hardships beyond the imagination of ordinary people.   Believe me, this is an extraordinary story that will follow throughout this blog.