Phil Foster

LONDON BORN

Philip J. Foster was born in London, second in a family of nine. He was four when the family moved here. He went to Bank Street, Strawberry Vale, and Boys’ Central schools, then left school at 13 to help contribute to the family income.

He had several jobs, including some time as a farm hand and as an assistant in a jewelry store. Then he managed at the age of 15 to bluff his way into the 143rd Battalion Bantams, a unit with a height limit of five feet four. But they learned his age and sent him back to civilian life.

Then he had himself apprenticed to a garage run by Arthur Dandridge; later he worked in one or two other garages until 1922, when he and a partner, Bob Frayne, set up business for themselves at the Fernwood Garage.

In 1930 Phil went his own way and took up the Speedway service station on Douglas, which he has operated ever since.

The Speedway Station was a landmark on Douglas St. for many years

His wife, the former Ella Scroggie, shares his interest in antique cars. She even carries the theme into household affairs. Visitors get table napkins that bear pictures of old cars. Once she discovered some cloth with an antique car design.,, and gleefully made Phil a shirt of the material.

Brother-in-law Cliff at the wheel of his 1911 Russell-Knight in 1958

Her brother, Cliff, is a car-collecting crony of Phil’s. He owns a number of antique cars himself. He and Phil have worked together on several projects. Cliff has moved to Vancouver now, but when the brothers-in-law meet, they kick the subject of old cars around for several hours; with special attention to their plans for an old car museum.