Caley

(submitted by Debbie Bork, with additions from newspaper clippings)

Roy Caley (1920–1999) was born in Watford. He attended Watford Public School and Watford High School. His father, Robert Samuel Caley, came from the Lucan area and his mother, Sarah Dellow, was from near Thedford. His parents came to the 4th Line (Confederation Line) east of Watford where they rented a farm. Their only daughter Pearl was born there. Nine years later their next child, Ivan was born there as well. Jack and Roy were born in Watford and there were nine years between them.

The Caleys lived in many rented homes in Watford. When Robert sold the farm, he worked on the Canadian National Railroad (CNR) for a time. Then he took over a profitable cartage business which he always regretted selling. Later he worked for Androck, where he was employed for 33 years. Robert always kept two driving horses in the village and never drove a car. The Caleys did eventually purchase a house, but within six years of that Roy's mother died, at the age of 48.

Roy Caley, 1930. Courtesy D Bork.

Roy once mentioned four details of family life: “All of us remember that you couldn't argue at the table, you always had to pick dandelions, help in the garden and help salt the pigs for winter.”

Sarah Jane (Dellow) Caley had been a sprinter. Athletic talent ran in the Dellow family. Her brother Jim was a well known marathon runner, running under the colours of the Gladstone Athletic Club in Toronto. His greatest accomplishment was finishing second in the 26 mile event for Canada at the Olympics in Belgium in 1920.

As a youth Roy loved to compete in track and field, hockey and basketball. He was a short distance runner like his mother. The May 28, 1937 Watford-Guide called him “Watford's most promising runner,” preparing for the provincial meet in both the 100 yard and 220 yard dashes. He played for the Watford Comets before joining the Watford Maroons. After retiring as a player on hockey and basketball teams, he became coach and manager.

Roy's sister Pearl married Russ Hollingsworth. His brother Ivan married Mabel Capes, the daughter of Robert Capes, who lived on the 6th Line southwest of Watford. His brother Jack married Mabel Osborne from London.

Roy married Irene Morgan, daughter of Martha and Fred Morgan who farmed on the 4th Line. They raised three children, twins Ann and Doug, and Debbie. Ann married Lyle Moffatt; Debbie married Bert Bork; and Doug's wife is Joan Cullis. Doug was an excellent hockey player like his father. Doug played for the St. Mary's Lincolns in Junior B hockey.

Roy was a Cub and Scout leader and an active member of the Watford United Church. He taught Sunday School for 23 years, looking after a class of teens. He worked at Andrew's Wire Works for six years, Clark's Flour and Feed for twenty-two years, Watford Guide-Advocate for eight and CHOK Radio for five.

Roy Caley was the first Race and Publicity Manager of the Watford 10 Mile Road Race (in 2008 called the Watford-Alvinston Optimist Road Race and measuring 16 kilometres). He also had a big part in bringing International Silver Stick Hockey to Watford, starting with a tournament in January 1960. In 1966 Minister of Education Bill Davis presented Roy with a citation for his organizational ability and drive to inspire this community sports program. The Watford event is now known as the Roy Caley Memorial Silver Stick Tournament.

In 1978, in honour of his community involvement and service to hockey, the Watford Minor Hockey Association presented Roy with a commemorative picture and plaque, to be hung in a spot of honour in the Watford Community Arena. He had been the first president of the Association.

Roy started writing sports reports for the Watford Guide-Advocate and then became a reporter for several area newspapers and wrote a sports column for the Watford and Forest papers. In the early 1970s he joined the staff at CHOK Radio in Sarnia, doing play by play broadcasts for local hockey teams. He gave farm reports and was a salesman for the station. He became a well-known personality and had his own daily noon hour program of poetry and comments called “Caley Country”.

The highlight of his radio career was with the Petrolia Squires Senior A hockey team. They won the Allen Cup in 1979 and again in 1981. He and George Heath aired all the Squires games, whether on the West Coast or Newfoundland.

Roy Caley was asked to be Master of Ceremonies throughout Lambton County — at fairs and many other community events. In 1988 he was named Central Canada's Broadcaster of the Year. He sat on many committees and boards throughout his career and deservingly was elected into the Sarnia-Lambton Hall of Fame.

Shortly before his passing, Roy was still writing a sports column for the Forest Standard. He wrote program inserts for the Junior hockey teams in Lambton County. In his honour, the Silver Stick Tournament was renamed “Roy Caley Memorial Regional Pee Wee and Bantam Silver Stick Tournament.” His wife Irene sold the house on Nauvoo and moved to Brookside Retirement home on Confederation Line after his death.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Cayley Family

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