History made in seconds Continued from page 9 11 · Friday, June 1, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com meeting Princess Alice, the great-grand aunt of the new queen. "It was just all great excitement. You know with 50 girls, the excitement was just bubbling out of everybody... And how the Westons managed to handle 50 teenaged girls? I will never know," Love said with a chuckle. The coronation itself, Love described as nothing she would ever have expected or imagined in her life -- witnessing the entire coronation on large screens that showed inside Westminister Abbey, where the new queen was being crowned. "It was so elaborate. There was a parade and a golden coach," said Love. "It was a cold and damp day, but luckily we were protected from the elements sitting in the stands. And here I am, with a little camera and video camera, trying to take pictures and film the royal coach to bring back home for everyone to see... and you know, within seconds it was all over." Love says the camaraderie she experienced with the girls during the trip was unparalleled and ended up creating a bond so strong that the Weston girls still get together decades later. In 2003, the group organized a reunion in Ottawa to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Queen, where 38 of the original group members attended. Since then, reunions have been held in St. John's, Nfld., Victoria, B.C., as well as regional meetings across the country. Once such reunion is taking place this weekend in celebration of the Queen's Diamond "It was so elaborate. There was a parade and a golden coach." Maryellen Love Your parents helped you cross the street safely, learn to ride a bike and drive a car Jubilee, where Love is opening up her home for a reception on Sunday for around 30 of the girls and some of their spouses, friends and daughters -- the event takes place after they watch the Queen's Regatta procession down the river Thames in England on TV at the Holiday Inn in Burlington. With around 45 of the original Weston girls alive today, many went on to become thespians, concert musicians, medical practitioners, educators, nuns and one, a Harvard professor. Love moved to Oakville as a young mother in 1960 with her three young children and became a school teacher, a profession she would retire from after 30 years of educating young minds. Love said Weston's idea of international relationships -- that originally spurred on the tour -- continued with all the Weston girls, even after they returned, as nearly all of them became world travellers in their own right. Love has visited South America, the Panama Canal, Russia, the Mediterranean, and returned to England and Scotland many times after. "We didn't stay home," she added. "We got out and we saw the world." Now they need you to help them make the right decision If conversations have begun to explore the topic of retirement living, you're probably wondering where to begin. The most important thing is to find the option that best suits your parent's needs. At Chartwell, our professionally trained staff can help you navigate the decision-making process and help you decide on the best option. Like nature? Love Royal Botanical Gardens! ATE OUR BLO R O B LE ATE OUR BLO R O B LE M CE CE Iris and Peony Laking Garden RBG Centre, 680 Plains Road West, Hamilton/Burlington · 905-527-1158 M S S 180 Oak Park Blvd., Oakville 905-257-0095 · www.chartwellreit.ca Making People's Lives Better RETIREMENT RESIDENCE