An Immigrant in his own Country Connects with Past Family Members
Photo from here
Born in Toronto. Moved to the island of Sark in the Channel Islands at five, then to England with British born parents till eleven, back to Canada and Saskatoon where my father immediately, silently left for Vancouver. Stranded, isolated on the Prairie’s alone with a brother who I mostly fought with [but who now is a towering anchor (?) and inspiration in my life] , and mother with an Electra complex. The immigrant experience. I am in fact an immigrant in my own country.
Little wonder my current urge to connect with family. The few extant members I have, the dead and the stangers; this for a sense of self. For esteem. To take pride and comfort in my name, my heritage, my blood, my abilities.
Thank you to aunt Sue Beale who lives in Bath for telling me about my uncle twice removed…or some such…Mr. Paul Beale friend of Eric Partridge’s and editor of A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional Englishand, to my father Colin Beale who wrote Beale’s Letter, a newsletter covering the forest industry in British Columbia for twenty years and introduced me to my late great uncle Sir Louis Beale, distinguished diplomat, His Majesty’s representative at the New York World’s Fair in 1939, and founding member of the Vancouver Club, and to his cousin Dr. John Beale, recently deceased, one of the world’s leading experts in vaccines and the science of viruses. Who, as soon as BSE was identified in the British herd, was one of the first to take its threat seriously. Who lived at Sissinghurst castle, where the Beales have now been a central part of the life of farm and community for more than 80 years. Thank you for these people whose blood I share.
And from the otherside, those portraits that have stared at me for years, reminding me of what I haven’t yet accomplished. But also of my lineage. Of what blended blood I have. Of what I am capable.
Of Sir Arthur Herbert Church my great, great grandfather, Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Academy, and leading authority in the chemistry of painting who, according to his obituary, “was educated at King’s College and the Royal College of Chemistry and at Lincoln College, Oxford, where he took a First Class at the Natural Science School, and gave valuable assistance in the work of preserving the paintings in the Houses of Parliament. He had himself exhibted at the Royal Academy. He was the discoverer of Turacin, an animal pigment contianing copper, and of several mineral species, including the only British cerium mineral. ”
“Sir Arthur published many books on agricultural chemistry [which is fascinating, at least to me, given that John Beale, from the other side, was a renowned expert in Foot and Mouth Disease. What wonderful hybrids we all are], and also wrote on earthenware and precious stones. His Laboratory Guide for Agricultural Students [wonder if John had to read it] has run into eight editions, and he also printed the results of his researches on vegetable albinism colein, and aluminuim in vascular cryptograms [I will hunt these page turners down on the Internet for further fascinating postings...at least for those with my pedigree. Stay tuned]. He was elected fellow of the Chemical Society in 1856, and of the Royal Society in 1888, and was created K.C.V.O. in 1909. For three years he was president of the Mineralogical Society.
And what have I done?
So, for those experiencing the isolation of immigrant experience, especially the young, take heart. You are not alone. You have your ancestors. I encourage all to search for their forebearers, humble and otherwise. Keep them close. It’s great for getting ‘grounded’…okay, ‘rooted,’ for motivation, for companionship, community and comfort in a foreign frightening land. In the end yes, it’s about you. But look where you come from! Look who’s with you!