Robert Wilton’s volunteering philosophy is simple.
When you find something you enjoy, stick with it and give back.
“What better way to spend your free time than doing something you love,” he said.
On Nov. 14, the 84-year-old was recently recognized for that philosophy and his dearth of volunteering experience.
He and four others were inducted in the Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer Hall of Fame during a ceremony in St. John’s.
“It was fantastic,” said Wilton. “It is quite an honour just to be nominated.”
The Durrell resident figures he has been volunteering with various community groups for the last 70 years.
He started at 15 when he joined the local air cadet squadron. From there, he went on to graduate from the Royal Canadian Air Force flying school and again got involved with cadets.
This time he lent his support to a pair of Manitoba cadet squadrons.
Once he was discharged from the Royal Canadian Air Force, Wilton returned to St. John’s where he became a civilian instructor with the 508 Caribou Air Cadet Squadron. Eventually, he served two years as its commanding officer from 1967 to 1968. He also served more than two decades in the Air Cadet League.
In all, he spent more than 30 years working with air cadets. He still finds it was some of his most impactful work as a volunteer.
“I think cadet movement is the greatest bang for their buck the government ever got,” said Wilton.
His work in the community didn’t stop with the moulding of young people through cadets. Wilton served on the Vera Perlin Society board of directors, was a member of the St. John’s Rotary Club and helped with the Red Cross door-to-door campaign.
After he moved to Lewisporte, his tireless sense of community didn’t stop. Over the years, he’s been involved with the Lewisporte Library Board, the Lewisporte Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Lewisporte town council, served on the Kiwanis executive and with the Kinsmen Club of Lewisporte. He also helped with St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Lewisporte and the St. Thomas/St. Augustine Boy Scouts.
“It just happened for me,” said Wilton. “I ended up in a lot of service clubs. Organizations that need volunteers look for people and I was there and I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve met some great people. "
He also sold a lot of fundraiser tickets during all those years, he noted.
Wilton joined the Canadian Crop of Commissionaires (Newfoundland division), was a former provincial chairman and is still a member of its board of governors. He is also a member of the Last Post Fund.
“You get as much out of it as you put into it,” he said. “You get a great deal of satisfaction out of it.”
