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From: "Joan Reichardt" <>
Subject: Bev Tosh's Exhibit
Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 17:18:23 -0700


I had a long drive to Kelowna and back yesterday - 4 hours each way - with my eldest daughter and her husband (who did most of the driving, bless his heart). But it was well worth it. To walk into the gallery and come face to face with my youthful self was an unforgettable experience. I don't think they have had many (if any) other 'originals' there so the staff was quite interested, and surprisingly, picked me out straight away. Another co-incidence, the receptionist on the desk when we arrived is from Twickenham, which is right across the Thames from my old hometown of Richmond, so we had a nice chat as well.
Looking at all those happy smiling young faces, so full of joy and hope, is, in some ways, a sobering experience as you cannot help wonder what happened to them. I had a good life with a good man who truly cared about me and his kids, but I know not all of us were that fortunate. As well as the oil painting on the wooden panels, there is the collage of snapshots and we had great fun finding 'us' in amongst them. Looking through the guest book before I signed I found a few other War Brides, as well family members. One of the most touching was from Sara who wrote 'I am so proud of my grandmother'. Two of my daughters have now visited the exhibit and one of my granddaughters will go before it closes and then, I am told, moves on to Ottawa. If you get a chance, go and see it. And a huge 'thank you' goes, of course, to Bev!! Joan Reichardt.

Joan Reichardt


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