Our Regulars, The Williams Group

^{Between 25-35 retired academics from Western gather in our Grand Hall for the lunch buffet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, they take a break after convocation in June, and come back in the fall.}

 

^{Since one of the members, Alan Philbrick passed away, Lemon Meringue has always been on the menu.  It’s a special little tribute to him, and his wife is still a member.}

 

^{I have grown up with this group, and it’s always nice to see their smiling faces each month.   Below is the origination of the Williams Group.}

^{Two men were responsible for initiating what is now known as The Williams’ Group.  Dr. D. Carlton Williams was Western’s President and Vice Chancellor from July 1967 to June 1977. Dr. Robert N. Shervill, Professor and Chair of the Department of Spanish and Italian but also the holder of several senior administrative responsibilities, one of which was Executive Assistant to the President.  I am not sure of the date, following Dr. Williams’ cessation of the presidency, when they decided to attempt to arrange for a monthly luncheon to enable retired professors and senior academic to get together to share their memories of their time at the University and, of course, any matters or issues in which they were interested. I should think this would be in 1978 or 1979. The group had no name. It had no officers, no constitution, no rules, no membership fee and no speeches!  That format exists to this day.}
 

 ^{Dr. Williams died in April 1994. In 1995, I proposed to our group, during one of our luncheons, that in honour of our deceased and highly- regarded founder, we give ourselves the name, The Williams Group. There was enthusiastic and unanimous approval.}

 ^{The Williams Group, without a name and with a name has been around for many years. And we hope it will be around for a long time to come.}