Miss Gwyneth Peters of Portsmouth celebrated her 101birthday with a Mass and festive reception this weekend to make up for forgetting that she had actually reached her century last year.
Miss Gweny, as she is popularly known in her hometown of Portsmouth, thought that she had observed her 99th birthday on 8th October last year and was all prepared to celebrate her century this year. But her friend and caretaker, Macdonald MacDowell, who researched her baptismal records recently found that she had in fact been born in the year 1909 and was therefore 101.
So on Friday she welcomed friends and relatives who dropped in to her house on the corner of Bay Street and Burrows Square in Dominica’s second town, with the news that she was actually 101. On Saturday, members of the Roman Catholic group, The Legion of Mary, of which Miss Gweny is a member, organized a celebratory Mass in her honour at the St.John’s Church Hall and a small reception at the Portsmouth Presbytery afterward.
Fr. Herman Sharplis, parish priest and celebrant of the Mass, commented in his homily on Miss Gweny’s perfect enunciation and quick wit.
His Excellency the President of Dominica Dr. N.J. Liverpool and Mrs. Liverpool were in attendance and the President presented Miss Peter with a large hamper of food, household ware and other gifts on behalf of the State. He also delivered a short address congratulating her on her achievement.
Similar greetings came from Mr. Evander Joseph, President of the Council for Aging and various members of her family. Distinguished among them was one of Miss Gweny’s nephews, Hon. Charles Savarin, member of Cabinet. Her brother, Wills Kelsick, who is 92 years old, drove himself from his home at Wesley to attend the function. Other members of Cabinet in attendance were the parliamentary representatives for the Portsmouth and Cottage constituencies, Hon. Ian Douglas and Hon. Reginald Austrie.
Miss Gweny was brought up with her aunts, her father’s sisters, in Portsmouth, and took over her father’s business of being an agent for Portsmouth trading vessels as well as running a small shop. Earlier she served as a primary school teacher and was Principal of the Laudat School in the 1930s.
Healthy food and lots of exercise and a family history of good health is Miss Gweny’s explanation for her longevity.
“In a way we were lucky to be growing up when we did,” she explained, “because there was hardly any imported food so we all ate local, and you had to walk everywhere because there were few motorable roads. That kept us active.”
“It was nothing for me to walk from Roseau to Laudat to get to work,” she laughed.
sorry, her name is Gwendolyn Peter and she was always a freedomite!!
@evolved: @evolved: what ”political mileage”? charles savarin last contested elections in portsmouth in 1985 —-that is 25 years ago !!!!!!!!!!!! what could attending his aunt’s 101 birthday celebration be used for ”political mileage”?is it that some of you so love to hate charles savarin that his picture and/ or name MUST evoke some negative reaction , regardless of the time, place., or occassion ?come on your souls really need some healing.HEAL YOUR PEOPLE OH LORD!
How come some people want to make this a Charles Savarin love series nuh, This is about his Aunt who is celebrating her 101 Birthday, just wish the young lady well. Miss Peter Happy Birthday – I am sure you had a wonderful day.
Congratulations Miss Gwenie and you are wished all the best for the future and many more to come. You do look good for your age and Mr Kelsick hmmm you surely do not look 92. Longevity surely runs in the family.
@sam: GOD WILLING !!!!!!!!YOU CAN SEE THAT IS IN THE MAKING!!!!!!!!!!!THOSE WHO HATE HIM SO MUCH CAN PREPARE TO CONTEND WITH HIM FOR A LONG TIME..
@fUWP: If you want to say that,,,, but that clearly shows you do not know miss Gwennie and has not been to her home!!!!!!!!!!! The only picture of a politician that is posted on Gwenny’s wall is that of former prime minister dame Eugenia Charles.Gwennie was a freedomite but like her nephew charles savarin would have voted labour since dame eugenia called on all freedomites in 2000 to remove the uwp from office at any cost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Dcan-2-d-bone: THOSE OF US WHO WERE AT THE MASS HELD FOR MISS GWENNIE WERE ALL MOVED BY THE OCCASSION , MANY PICS WERE TAKEN IN CHURCH AND AT THE PRESBYTERY WHERE THE RECEPTION WAS HELD. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT OF THE VERY MANY PICS THAT WERE TAKEN THE PHOTOGRAPH WITH HER TWO[2] NEPHEWS WAS POSTED ONLINE .I KNOW CHARLES SAVARIN HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MESSAGE OR THE PICTURE CHOOSEN. THE FACT IS THAT CHARLES SAVARIN AND HIS BROTHER OSSIE WERE THERE AS WAS HIS OTHER BROTHER EDMOND AND HIS SISTER PETROLINA——— OUT OF THE DOZENS OF NEPHEWS AND NEICES WHO WERE NOT THERE . So what IS YOUR STRESS??????????
Happy birthday aunty Gwen,i must say priases to god for keeping so young!Proud have come from Your blood line.
she looks good. keep eain’ d fig and dasheen
wow!!!… she looks so good and strong for her age.. and her brother as well.. he doesn’t look 92 at all!!!
I wonder when last & how often Charlo goes to see his aunty, he dere smiling big & broad like Mr. Congeniality – lol. You can see de love in his bro – just see how he watching his aunty while Charlo dere putting his swagger on – heheheeee.
Congrats Ms. Peters and kudos to your caretaker as well.
thank God 4 this womans life.may u continue to praise Him 4 his numerous and countless blessings.
What in the water in possie, that woman look fine, happy birthday my dear granny
granny is what u eat so you looking so fine in peace and happy ,happy birthday granny.
@fUWP: Oh Please!
IT IS GOOD TO WISH YOU A HAPPY AND RELIGEOUS 101 YEARS, YOU AND YOUR SISTER HAVE REALLY GIVEN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR THE GOOD OF THE PORTSMOUTH COMMUNITY, IT IS JUST A PITY SUCH ACHIEVEMENTS AS IN THE CASE OF MANY OF OUR ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO HAD THE TOWN TICKING OVER IN ALL SENSE OF THE WORD WHEN WE WERE ISOLATED FROM OTHER AREAS OF DOMINICA. ARE NOT DOCUMENTED FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD TO KNOW
CONGRATULATION TO YOU AND MAY YOU SURVIVE MANY MORE YEARS
may god bless on ur 101 bday
congrats to miss.Peter for attaining such an achievement!! All the best and may you see many more to come!!!!
Granny Gweny, CONGRATULATIONS on achieving this milestone. God bless you as He favors you with more. You look very good for your age – alert and agile, that is a wonderful blessing from God. Also the 92 year old brother looked like he is 60, well it appears that longevity runs in this family. Does it means that CHARLO will be with us for a very long time?
Just observing the trend!!!!!!!
@Muslim_Always. what statement are you trying to make: “…ImagIne she is an educated black woman”????
Portsmouth,
I will echo the very same words as you. I have known her all my life as well, I remember as a young child growing up in Portsmouth she had a small shop next to where the Portsmouth Toilet used to be and opposite Isiah John and Mrs. Bertrand.
Ms. Peters used to have lots of handycrafts selling. Also a child going to School ( Portsmouth St. Johns’ School) I can recall they used to have a very large Kenip tree growing in the yard just opposite RBD Borough Square and the sea wall we use to jump over the wall to get the Kenips. I can recall also two elderly lady living there in that big wall house, now I know after reading this article they were her aunts.
Congratulations to her and I wish her the very best in health and may she live to see many more birthdays!!
I think she always voted DLP…No wonder she looks so good
Happy Birthday Ms. Gwenny,just reading the story made me smile…………….. I am happy for you…. God’s guidance be upon you
on ting possie have old pple
congrats on your 101 birthday
god nless you graams
Congrats Ms. Peters on your milestone. May you have continued strength and God’s blessing in your golden years.
Shame on the two nephews for allowing her 100th birthday to pass without observance. They should have remembered and given her the kind of celebration that she received today. Let us hope that Charles did not use this for political mileage.
She looks coherant and fine. It is a blessing. A grandmother for all Dominicans.
Gods richest blessings to you granny.
Congratulations to Miss Peters as we in Portsmouth always calls her. I have known Miss Peters all my life growing up in Portsmouth and she is a well respected lady, God bles you Ms. Peters and I trust that you will live to see many more years to come. I do look forward to visiting you when I come to Dominica for the Portsmouth Reunion. You will surely be one of th Centurians in Portsmouth who will be awarded as a centurian in the town of Portsmouth which is known to have a lot of centurians.
God Blesss you.
happy birthday granny.I must say you look good and stronger than some people in their 60s.I want the secret
GOD BLESS YOU MS GWENY
I agree with you Kiki.Always have respect for the elderly.From them you could learn alot,especially their life stories,and they do have a sense of humour in the things that they say sometimes.We just have to remember they were like us at one time,and we will be like them one day.More love and respect to you Ms Peters and all the other old folks.
congrats
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Happy birthday granny, people like you make me feel very proud to be both a muslim and Dominican. We have quite a bit of centurians here and I hope scientists will discover the foods that aid longevity.
These folks have so much to tell us about Dominica. Can you imagine, she is an educated black woman. A lot you can teach us. I wish I could speak with you. Happy birthday granny, may God grant you more years with us. Wish you reach the guiness world of records of the longest living person on earth. (smiles)
Congratulations! to you Miss Peters.Thanks for everything,the good advice about life and all.
The seeds that you sowed, have germinated in abundance.
I was so very happy when i sat with you a couple years ago,We spoke about you , life, and we shared a few laughs; about my childhood and growing up,and catechism classes.Your memory is as sharp as ever……A million thanks to you….
May the Good LORD bless,keep and protect you…..Love you…and…..
Best Wishes,and continued strength.
She looks amazing for 101 years. God Bless her and keep her. You can see she is a God-fearing woman. Congrats!!!
Altho i dnt know you. congrats my Granny
This is such a blessing..Happy Birthday!! May God continue to richly bless u and ur family…
Reminds me of my grandma..she lived to see 87 and i wish she was still here..she raised me and i loved her very much..everytime i see an elderly person i remmeber my grand ma..I love Elderly people..they teach u so much..and raise u so well..
Looks like a sweet lady!!! Happy Birthday!!!!
CONGRATULATIOS Ms. Gweny. That is quite an achievement. You look very good for your age. I wish you good health and many more years on this earth with us.
Bless your heart my dear lady.
Congratulations Miss Peter. You looking well good for your long years. Its sad though that my generation may never live so long. Enjoy your birthday and all the best!
i would love to have celebrated my grand parents birthday that way .happy birthday granny and i hope you had a wonderful time .(maybe dominican should adupt all the elderly in our country )
Heartiest Congratulations to Ms. Peters. She is a good example to the younger women of Dominica, live simply, eat simply, exercise and Praise and Honour your Lord Almighty.