When stamps were no longer needed, he converted to a flower fund for wives of departed classmates. Before each of the reunions he and his wife Elizabeth encouraged our attendance, booked the hotel, and organized both the Friday Meet and Greet and the Saturday night dinner. On our arrival Phil and Elizabeth would be at the front door of the hotel to greet all. Because of Phil we found that our close friends at the college stayed our close friends for 65 years. We decided to honour Phil by making our 65th year since graduation in 2023 a “THANKS PHIL”<\/strong> event.<\/p>\n The class knew we needed to be secretive if we wanted our plan to work.\u00a0 If Phil knew we would be honouring him for a lifetime of service to our class, he would never have allowed it.\u00a0 So, a small group of us from the Class arranged a Thanks Phil Committee.\u00a0 We had zoom calls, emails and many laughs while planning this special secretive event for our class leader. It was months of planning, but in the end our plan worked.<\/p>\n OUR SECRETIVE PLAN OF ACTION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n As a Thank you gift the Class knew Phil drinks Bowmore scotch. We bought a 26-year-old Bowmore for $760 and 2 Glencarin UK engraved crystal scotch glasses for $100 apiece.<\/p>\n Phil sniffs the scotch<\/p><\/div>\n THE SURPRISE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Phil has an identical, Ex Cadet twin brother named 3629 Bob\u00a0Smith RRMC RMC Class of 1956 who was in on our devious plan.<\/p>\n THE DECEPTION<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Phil started in January to organize the 2023 reunion. It looked like about 16 of the 38 remaining cadets were attending. They were contacted and told to react to Phil’s emails but ignore the \u2018details\u2019. The details would come under the email subject “THANKS PHIL”<\/p>\n THE ARREST<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n It was arranged that Phil would arrive at the hotel at 4pm on Friday 15 September for our Friday Meet and Greet.\u00a0 \u00a0Upon his arrival, an unsuspecting Phil was arrested for the theft of money from the stamp fund, booked in at the reservation desk and escorted to his cell (room) in the hotel. At 7pm Phil was taken for his mug shot (class photo) on the steps at the hotel. Unknown to him his twin brother Bob was in the photo. The party then moved to the Meet and Greet room where we began our \u201cTrial\u201d.<\/p>\n THE TRIAL<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n With any arrest, once the accused is booked, then comes their day in court to answer to their charges.<\/p>\n If any of you know Phil, he is a man of many words, so to say he was shocked is an understatement.\u00a0 He was not allowed to speak during his \u2018Trial\u2019.<\/p>\n The Trial<\/p><\/div>\n The prosecutor (4215 Don Wallace) read the indictment charging Phil with stealing funds from the Stamp Fund during the past 65 years. Four witnesses (4106 Peter Meincke, 4282 Bob Dallison, 4259 Skip Sears 4139 Sam Dunbar) were called and asked questions about the theft.<\/p>\n First witness 4106 Peter Meincke<\/p><\/div>\n Their answers thanked him for all his work, presented a cheque for a flower arrangement to be given to his wife Elizabeth, and a summary of the THANKS PHIL financials, which included a $6500 donation in Phil’s name to the Alumni Association Military Training Fund.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cheque Presentation for $6500 to RMC Alumni Association.<\/p><\/div>\n Finally, the Foreman of the Jury (4163 David Allatt) was called.\u00a0 Phil was found guilty and was presented with the Scotch and glasses.<\/p>\n Jury Foreperson 4163 Dave Allatt Announces Verdict<\/p><\/div>\n It was announced that one classmate would have the honour of tasting the scotch\u00a0with Phil. Raffle tickets were distributed, the draw by Phil and lucky number called out, and called out again, no answer. Finally, from the back of the hall, Twin Bob appears, and, in the video, you can see the complete shock in Phil\u2019s face and the excitement in their embrace. At that moment we saw the highlight of the tribute to our Class Secretary, Bob’s appearance.<\/p>\n A truly wonderful event and we know it made Phil\u2019s day to see how his fellow classmates kept everything a secret for all those months of detailed planning.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rmcalumni.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Pic-1.png\")
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