Fall of 'Charlie's Tree' offers good opportunity to improve veteran recognition in Surrey
A wonderful statue of Arthur Thomas Fleetwood, in his First World War uniform, stands outside the Fleetwood Community Centre complex at 84 Avenue and 160 Street. It is one of the few public remembrances of veterans are in Surrey. Hopefully, the recent attention paid to "Charlie's Tree" in Port Kells will lead to some more recognition. The fall to the ground of “Charlie’s Tree” along Highway 1 in Port Kells has attracted a lot of attention. The 300-year-old Douglas fir came to public attention in the early 1960s, when it was scheduled to be cut down to make room for the new freeway. Highways Minister Phil Gaglardi, who had been compared to Roman road builders by his boss, Premier W.A.C. Bennett, was determined to have a straight-as-an-arrow road running into the Fraser Valley. However, he hadn’t reckoned with Charlie Perkins. The longtime Port Kells resident and First World War flying corps veteran had a special area at the rear of his 96 Avenue property that ...