Wall Of Fame
Brigadier Clarence Sparks McKee CBE, ED, CD
MEMBER OF BRANCH OR BRANCHES: Co-Founder of the Eglinton Branch, 1934, with Col. R.S. Timmis
REGION: There were no regions at that time
APPROXIMATE DATES OF MEMBERSHIP: 1934 to 1975 (died)
ACHIEVEMENTS IN PONY CLUB IN ADULTHOOD:
- Vice-Chair, Eglinton Branch of the Pony Club on forming. Became involved because he felt too many children were riding without proper instruction and something should be done about it.
- National Chair 1966-1971
- Honourary Life Director
ACHIEVEMENTS AS A RIDER:
- Show jumping, Royal Winter Fair on the Army Team, pre- and post- WW 1
- Hunted with Eglinton Hunt, Toronto/North York Hunt, and in England during the Wars with the Beaufort Hunt and Horsham and Crawley Hunt.
- An avid rider throughout his lifetime, Brigadier McKee rode on a cold December day in 1975, the day before he died at age 82.
ACHIEVEMENTS AS AN ACCREDITED OFFICIAL
- Ring Judge, RWF, pre Second War for jumping classes
- Vice President (to Cliff Sifton) of the Hunter & Light Horse Improvement Society local branch.
- Through membership at Eglinton, arranged funds to bring Piero Santini from Italy in early 1930's to teach "forward seat" riding and jumping for a month. There was little formal instruction available at that time outside the cavalry for either adults or children. (Historical note: "forward seat" was invented in the late 1800s by Federico Caprilli after study of how horses moved when free jumping. Out of this came the two-point position for jumping. Santini was well-known as a writer, instructor and general popularizer of Caprilli's techniques.)
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE MAINSTREAM
- General Manager, Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, Toronto
- Vice Chairman of the Ontario Racing Commission , 1966-1971
- Re-wrote "The Rules of Racing" for The Commission
- Lecturer, Humber College, Toronto on Horsemanship and Thoroughbred Racing.
- Donated good part of horse library to Humber College
- A lawyer, 1923 - 1939. BA, MA, LLB
- Army, 1913 - 1966, Active Service 1917 - 1919, and 1939 - 1945. Served in Italy commanding Royal Canadian Corps of Signals for that fighting. For more information visit the Dominion Institute
- Colonel Commandant, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals 1960's.
- Stock Broker, 1945-1949.
FAVOURITE MEMORIES YOU HAVE OF OF PONY CLUB
- Took lead in forming Eglinton Pony Club, but British headquarters dubious about acceptable leadership "in the Colonies" put up Col. Timmis as District Commissioner. Since he was an officer in the Royal Canadian Dragoon Guards, he WAS considered acceptable
- Hunted with and served on executive of with Eglinton Hunt and Toronto & North York Hunt Clubs
- Hunted in England, 1940 to 1943, with Major General George Pearkes, with Beaufort & 3 or 4 others.
- Badly hurt in Oct. 1930 when his horse QUARTERMASTER hit a fence and fell, rolling onto Brigadier McKee.
- Sailed as part of racing crew of Major Jim Hahn's 72' sloop NONCHALANT at Royal Canadian Yacht Club.