Maddocks, David Sidney
arrived on November 19, 1936 in Humboldt, Sask. - at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital on St Elizabeth’s Day. He was the ninth and last child of Winifred and Reginald, British immigrants. David had 6 brothers and 2 sisters.
At 18 months old, David and his family moved to Richmond, B.C. and established Twin Hollies Farm. Dave became adept in most aspects of agriculture, specializing in strawberry, raspberry, potato and dairy production. Dave was a member and long-time leader of Richmond 4-H. In 1963, Dave joined Richmond Plywood and became a working shareholder. The same year, he married Patricia, the eldest daughter of Lewis & Chris van der Gracht. In June of 1964, Dave’s eldest child, Michele, was born and later that year he returned to help manage Twin Hollies.
In Dec. of 1965, Dave’s youngest child, Lisa, arrived. In 1970, together with a nephew, Lyle Price and his wife, Jackie, he purchased Port Potato Farm in Port Alberni, B.C. Dave & family moved to The Island to clear land and to build up the business to the point that it could support 2 families. In 1979, Dave & family re-located to Courtenay and purchased Springhill Farm on Hardy Road. Dave and Pat established a market-garden on the former hayfields and cleared more land. Springhill Farm grew 65 acres of vegetables and ran an acre and a half of greenhouses - growing everything from A - Z, asparagus to zucchini; asters to zinnias! Springhill Farm was open to the public 7 days a week, 12 months a year.
The highest daily customer count was over 7000 people which occurred on a “Tour the Farms Day”! In 1991, after surviving many silent heart attacks, Dave had quintuple by-pass surgery. At the same time, he was dealing with COPD. In 2001, Springhill Farm ceased operations and the property was sold in 2003. Dave was an avid traveller- visiting a total of 50 countries. During his many voyages, he touched on all the continents, including Antarctica. He toured Australia many times - keeping in touch with his girls and their families. He was proud of them all, son-in-law, Craig Harris (Michele - pediactric nurse) and grandsons, Chris & Michael and son-in-law, Michael Luvio (Lisa - lawyer) grand-daughter, Vanessa and twin grandsons, Matty & Nicky. Dave donated the last weeks of his life to a Phase One chemotherapy trial at the B.C. Cancer Clinic in Vancouver. David departed this world on Sunday, December 4, 2005.