History – Frederick Calderwood

A little history about my father Frederick Calderwood, pictured second from left on your website under History.

He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and went to school at Methodist College in Belfast where he first discovered his love for Rugby. He served in the RAF during the Second World War, where he continued his rugby career. He immigrated to Canada after the war and formed the Edmonton Rugby Football Club, alongside fellow rugby enthusiasts from the United Kingdom.

Unfortunately, my fathers stay in Canada was short lived. He broke his neck playing rugby for the Edmonton Rugby Football Club in 1953 shortly after the picture on your website was taken. My dad spent a year in hospital in Edmonton recovering from his injury, which left him semi paralyzed. He met my mother who had recently graduated from McGill University and had just started a career as a physiotherapist. My father was married in Edmonton. Stan Wilson, third to my dads right, (marked unknown on your website) was the best man at his wedding and a life long friend.

My dad returned to Belfast because of his injuries, and my mother followed shortly after fulfilling her contract at the Edmonton hospital. My dad remained a lifelong rugby enthusiast. He died in 2015 at the age of 93, not knowing the rugby club he had partially founded in 1953 still existed.

Thank you very much,

Carl Calderwood