Erla Browne is Barbados’ newest centenarian

IT was double celebration for the effervescent Erla Browne yesterday.

Not only did she step into the exclusive centenarian club, she was able to spend it with her six-year-old great-granddaughter Eleanor from England, who also celebrated her birthday on the same day.

The birthday gathering took place at Palm Court residence in Salters, bringing together family from the United Kingdom, Canada and Barbados to celebrate the life of this educator who spent her teaching career at the St. Gabriel’s school.

The devout Anglican, who spends time in Barbados and the UK, amazed those who came to see her including Governor General His Excellency, Sir Elliott Belgrave, whom she impressed by effortlessly reading the card which he presented on behalf of himself and his wife. She informed Sir Elliott that every morning she has two teaspoons of brandy with her morning coffee.

She admitted to the media afterwards that she eats “all the wrong things”, from pigtails, a bit of salt in her food, stressing that she doesn’t care much for greens. She also enjoys a good Bajan soup with dumplings and fruit cake at Christmas time. She noted that her nephew and health advocate, Sir Trevor Hassell, tried to get her to clean up her act some years ago, but she saw no need. “If I lived at that age and I never got a stroke, nothing. I went in to the hospital once at 18 to get my tonsils removed. Whatever is there I eat,” she laughed.

She explained that after being hit by chikungunya two years ago, she was left with occasional pain in her thumb, otherwise she is in good health.

The centenarian said she developed a love for children from the time she changed her first diaper at age 13. She recounted some of her memories at St. Gabriel’s, including the time she had to wash out a boy’s mouth with bath soap for swearing.

Rector of the St. George Parish Church, Reverend John Rogers, also attended the celebration, bringing greetings on behalf of the Parish family. He noted that she attends church on Sundays and on Wednesday mornings.

“She is a sure sign of God’s providence amongst us and she is a good sign for young people that we ought not to make excuses about not going to church. When someone 100 years can get out and serve God with the type of zest that our sister does, there is no excuse for young people.”

The reverend believes that it is her faith that brought her and other centenarians this far in life. “It is the faith of these people that have kept them going all this time. She would have seen many challenges in her lifetime, but her faith kept her grounded.”

The family thanked family friends, George and Jacqueline Brathwaite, for selflessly accommodating Erla in Barbados when the weather becomes too cold in England.

Erla has one daughter Betty Sanders. Her sons Peter and David passed away. She has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. (JH)