Vyvyan Mary Elizabeth Garnett Vickress (born Pickles)

The family lived over the Pickles Pharmacy until 1930 (see picture).

Since Mary Bazzi was a skilled dressmaker a lot of Vyvyan's clothes were made at home. Vyvyan learned knitting and a bit of dressmaking from her mother. Mary made a lot of her own clothes from top quality apparel from wealthy friends.

Although Mary could sing she did not around the house. Vyvyan did like to sing almost every day at home as a child until about 18.

Growing up in Finchley which was close to the Jewish mecca of Golders Green, she developed a liking for Jewish people. During WWII she even dated a few Jewish American soldiers including a special young man named Gerry Heit. In 2006 a guy named Marvin Heit sent Vyvyan a letter regarding his deceased cousin Gerry Heit, who kept a photo of Vyvyan from 1945. Gerry must have cherished the memories to keep that photo for life. Marvin wanted all the details Vyvyan could remember about him and their time together before he left for the war zone. Gerry did live a full life dying in approx 2004.

Vyvyan met Al Vickress in England in Aug 1946, just after he returned from WWII in India. They got married in 1949 in spite of Vyvyan's parents’ lack of approval. Vyvyan is from a solid middle class family and married a working class artiste (pianist), ex RAF and future aircraft machinist.

Immigrated to Canada in 1951 for 2 reasons, Al got a job offer from A.V. Roe (AVRO) an airplane company in Malton, Toronto, and it was difficult to obtain a house or Apartment in Essex, England.

Her best memory in life was the birth the first child (Trevor in 1953). The smell of rubbing alcohol, which they put in the babies umbilical cord, was a positive memory for life. The first time the not so little bundle was places in her arms was a never forgotten memory.

Vyvyan was a founding member of the Malton Tennis Club and the Malton Badminton Club and held positions of club President, Treasurer and Secretary for both organizations.

In the early-mid 1960's every Friday night the entire family would have eggs and chips for dinner as it's all the food we had in the house. Then we would go from 3361 Capricorn Crescent in Malton to Rexdale Mall to Dominion as it was the close grocery story. Neil and Wayne pooled their 25 cents weekly allowance to buy a package of stamps at Coles. Vyvyan was impressed by their maturity at any early age.

On Dec 25, 1963 Gail was born at 9:30 PM. Vyvyan would not go to the hospital until the turkey was cooked, eaten and cleared away to the delight of her 4 sons and husband.

Vyvyan was the treasurer of the MMRA (Malton Memorial Recreation Association), and Albert was the Secretary. This organization who's President was Greg Anaka was formed in 1964 approx to raise funds to build the first ever Malton hockey arena. Over $90,000 was raised by the committee and the government pitched in $150,000. This arena now stands on the intersection of Goreway Drive and Derry Road. In the Foyer there is a copper replica of the certificate given to all those who donated more than $100. These certificates were written by Vyvyan and is duplicated on the replica.

In the 1960's Vyvyan did nightly exercises in the hall after the kids when to bed. Trevor being the oldest and leader of the kids placed the moniker of "Hallway hippo" on poor Vyvyan even through she was only 10 pounds over weight. Ever since then Vyvyan has a fondness for hippos. Ah the well regarded Vickress sense of humour was already developing in the boys, as they all learned from the master, Al.