Known by friends as ‘Saint Aubrey’, Ingraham makes helping others his life’s work

MIDDLETON, N.S. — After the gathering at the Heart of the Valley Long Term Care Centre in Middleton sang Happy Birthday, there was quite a surprise for a 101-year-old volunteer.

A banner in honour of Aubrey Ingraham was unveiled on Aug. 5, the first of several Middleton Remembrance Day banners that will honour the community’s veterans.

“Do you like it?” asked Heart of the Valley Long Term Care Centre recreation director Tracy Fraser.

“I would be awful stupid not to,” Ingraham replied, much to the delight of the gathering.

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When asked what it means to him to be the first veteran recognized through Middleton’s Remembrance Day banner campaign, Ingraham said, “I have no way to say how much I appreciate it.”

He said he couldn’t thank those responsible for giving him the honour enough, and he didn’t feel that he really deserved it.

“I’m not a guy who looks for praise,” Ingraham said.

When it comes to his extensive volunteer resume, Ingraham said being able to help so many people over the years “makes me feel better than the people that I do it for. I really enjoy helping people. I did that most of my life.”

The 101-year-old shows no signs of slowing down. For the past six years, he has volunteered regularly at the Heart of the Valley Long Term Care Centre in Middleton and cooks for the monthly supper club.

“I was brought up to do good, and to help people whenever I could, which I did,” Ingraham said.

Born and raised in Burgeo, Newfoundland, his volunteerism began as a child. After Sunday School, he would deliver cake, cookies and soup to seniors and shut-ins.

Ingraham has cooked for countless church suppers and other community fundraising dinners over the years.

Ingraham said that, for about 40 years, he has volunteered with the Aylesford and District Lions Club’s Friendly Neighbours program, cooking for the three-dozen or so people preparing Christmas hampers for distribution in the community.

Ingraham said he has been blessed with a great memory and can recall just about everything from the time he was a toddler.

He said he sailed before, during and after the Second World War, for about 50 years altogether. He started on a vessel not unlike the iconic schooner the Bluenose. Working as a cook on various ships for five decades, Ingraham prepared and served an estimated 6,600,000 meals.

Ingraham said he was at sea when the Second World War broke out. During the war, he served with the Canadian Merchant Navy, and he is possibly the last surviving Second World War Canadian Merchant Navy veteran.

Reflecting on the Second World War, Ingraham said, “there’s some memories that I would try to forget; some of them I’ll never forget.”

Ingraham said one thing he credits his long life to is that he worked hard when he was young, and he doesn’t drink or smoke.

“As I say, I can still chase women, but I can’t catch them,” Ingraham said with a smile.

Ingraham thanked everyone for coming to the unveiling. He shared a prayer he wrote about 35 years ago when he was the president of the Contemporary Club.

Daughter Diane Ingraham said she is overwhelmed, excited, and she considers it “quite a coup” for the town to see her father honoured as the first recipient of a Middleton Remembrance Day banner.

“Never in our wildest imagination would we figure that the Town of Middleton or the Legion would come together and honour his service,” she said.

Diane said her father has always been proud of being in the Merchant Navy, but he’s often felt that those who served in that capacity have been largely overlooked by history.

Heart of the Valley Long Term Care Centre resident’s council president Rita Winger thanked Ingraham for everything he has done for the residents at the facility.

“It has been our pleasure to be able to get to know you. We have enjoyed the meals you have prepared for us and your quick wit,” Winger said.

Bob Keith has known Ingraham for 15 years. He said he has learned a lot from Ingraham, who he considers both a friend and advisor. He said Ingraham has dedicated his life to service, and some friends refer to him as “Saint Aubrey.”

Keith said he couldn’t believe that anybody could be as good as Ingraham. When he read a book written by Ingraham’s daughter called Burgeo Boy 100 Years, he found out that all his observations about Ingraham were correct.

“I’m absolutely convinced that he represents his generation better than anybody else I know,” Keith said.

He said this is what he refers to as “the four ‘R’ generation,” and Ingraham embodies the qualities thereof: resourcefulness, resilience, respect, and reverence.

Middleton Royal Canadian Legion Branch 1 president Andrew Bent said that, considering everything Ingraham does for the town and the Heart of the Valley Long Term Care Centre, it’s “fantastic” to see him honoured with Middleton’s first Remembrance Day banner.

He said the long-term care centre approached the Legion with the idea, and the honour “couldn’t go to anyone more deserving than him.”

Bent said the banner initiative has the support of the town and would be ongoing. They hope to have eight to 10 banners put up this year. Banners will be hung a month before Remembrance Day and will remain up for a couple of days afterwards.

— Ingraham’s grandfather was a cook on sailing ships and played a key role in Ingraham’s early years.

— Ingraham emigrated to Canada from his native Newfoundland in 1939 (Newfoundland and Labrador didn’t join confederation until 1949) after borrowing a suitcase and $50.

— Ingraham served in the Merchant Navy is the Second World War and on several ships before and after the war. A couple of notable examples include the Cable Ship Lord Nelson, which laid trans-Atlantic communications cables, and the SS BA Peerless, which transported petroleum products from Thunder Bay, Ontario, to Maracaibo, Venezuela.

— Ingraham married his sweetheart, Verna Settle, in 1951. They had three children, daughter Diane and twin sons Winston and Wayne.

— Ingraham is a lifelong volunteer and is active in the church. He has been recognized on several occasions for his many contributions to the community.

— Ingraham is known as an innovative “tinkerer” and inventor, he writes poetry, and is an amateur actor.

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