Aikens, Hugh [Torchy] Elliott, 1914-1999

Synopsis: Hugh Aikens was born September 11, 1914 in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay) Ontario, and moved with his family to Vancouver in 1919. He acquired the nickname "Torchy" in later life because of his red hair. In Vancouver, he worked for Cleland-Kent Engraving, as a photo-engraver, electrotyper, and later account manager. He began to visit Hollyburn in the early 1930s and, with friends Johnny Gibson and Ray Smith, got a cabin. During World War II, Hugh joined the Canadian Army Engineers and was trained in mountain warfare near Jasper, Alberta. After the war he returned to Vancouver and Hollyburn. He shared his cabin "Pack-Em-Inn" with Bea and Eric MacIntosh and Naomi Wilson. In 1947, Hugh and his brother Bert leased land and built a cabin on Mt. Seymour. In 1950, Hugh married Joyce Hall. Both were active members of the British Columbia Mountaineering Club and the Vancouver Natural History Society. Hugh “Torchy” Aikens was known as Hollyburn’s photographer since he took hundreds of photographs of life on the mountain. Hugh Aikens died in 1999.

Synopsis: Hugh Aikens was born September 11, 1914 in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay) Ontario, and moved with his family to Vancouver in 1919. He acquired the nickname "Torchy" in later life because of his red hair. In Vancouver, he worked for Cleland-Kent Engraving, as a photo-engraver, electrotyper, and later account manager. He began to visit Hollyburn in the early 1930s and, with friends Johnny Gibson and Ray Smith, got a cabin. During World War II, Hugh joined the Canadian Army Engineers and was trained in mountain warfare near Jasper, Alberta. After the war he returned to Vancouver and Hollyburn. He shared his cabin "Pack-Em-Inn" with Bea and Eric MacIntosh and Naomi Wilson. In 1947, Hugh and his brother Bert leased land and built a cabin on Mt. Seymour. In 1950, Hugh married Joyce Hall. Both were active members of the British Columbia Mountaineering Club and the Vancouver Natural History Society. Hugh “Torchy” Aikens was known as Hollyburn’s photographer since he took hundreds of photographs of life on the mountain. Hugh Aikens died in 1999.