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William C. Belsey, right, retired chief clerk, presents a gift to retiring permanent foreman, A. Knight Tompkins, in ceremonies at the CNR Freight Sheds yesterday. Mr. Tompkins is retiring after 48 years with the railroad. A. Knight Tompkins Retires After 48 Years of Service In 1916, at the height of hos- tilities in the First Great War, the British Chemical Company Ibuilt a giant chemical plant in Trenton which was to blow up two years later and almost take the town with it. In that same year, a young man walked into the railway of- fices at Trenton and was hired as a checker. Today, 48 years later, that same man is retiring as per- manent foreman of the CNR Freight Sheds in Belleville. A. Knight Tompkins started in the business, July 30, 1916. He worked there as a truck- er, a checker and a boiler mak- er's helper until being transfer- red to Midland as a checker in 1932. On September 9, 1935, Mr. Tompkins came to Belleville as freight checker, and was made relieving foreman three years later. He was promoted to permanent foreman, June 1 1943. His fellow workers held a re- tirement party for him at the freight sheds yesterday. Retir- ed chief clerk William C. Bel- sey presented Mr. Tompkins with a gift on behalf of the workers, and Henry Hall, Pre- sident of Local 126, CBRT and GW, presented a cheque on be- half of the union. "I've seen a lot of changes since I started in this business," he said, "but there have been more changes in the last three years than in the previous 45. "My wif£, Anne Jean, and I are heading out for Saskatoon Tuesday fpr a family reunion. Next year/ if all goes well, we'll be visiting Newfoundland We hope to do a lot of travelling now." The