GLAMOUROUS, prim and proper, as well as alert, witty, and very vocal is 94-year-old Mrs Cicely Harding of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara whom the Sunday Chronicle interviewed last week.

One does not often come across a nonagenarian (a person who is between 90 and 99 years old) enjoying such good health as would allow her to travel at will — frequently and unaccompanied — from the West Side’s Pouderoyen in Region Three to busy Georgetown in Region Four.

And incredibly, she possesses such determination and energy that, whenever she has a mind to, she would walk the entire length of the Demerara Harbour Bridge if needs be, and dare you try to dissuade her!

And so, today, the Sunday Chronicle says “Hats off!” to well known ‘Lady of the Hats’, Mrs. Cecily Harding, known for ‘running away’ with the first prize for best designed and modelled hat in the Inner Wheel’s annual hat show.

Sagacious and of calm demeanour, with a regal aura that commands attention and a pleasant attitude that is infectious, she spoke convincingly in a brief self-introduction when she proudly rattled off: “My name is Cecily Harding. I am 93 years, 11 months (old), having been born on June 2, 1921. I was born at 94 Second Street, Alberttown (Georgetown), where I grew up with my parents — Mary Victoria Miller and Charlie Miller.

“I attended one school in my early days – Comenius Moravian in Anira Street, Queenstown. In those days, my schoolmaster was C.J. Richmond and later R.C.G. Potter. Around there, I had many schoolmates. Mr. Forbes Burnham, who later came to be our Prime Minister and President, used to attend Queen’s College, but he used to come to Comenius Moravian to do art; and so he would sit behind me and take art from a man named Charlie Burrowes, who lived in Kitty with his family, and he used to smoke a pipe. He eventually set up the school called the Burrowes School of Art.”

Cecily recalled that after leaving school, she took tutoring in dressmaking; but being a fashion-conscious person, she found she needed money to buy fashionable clothes, and so be able to maintain her standard. She said she checked a few stores around Water Street and made enquiries for a job.

She was interviewed by the management of a store named A. Majeed and Sons, and the interview included an arithmetic test. Fortunately for her, she liked arithmetic and was good at it, and so she got the job.

She said she worked there for some time, earning a princely sum of ten shillings a week. “I enjoyed receiving my ten shillings at weekends, and it went a long way. I was able to purchase my home groceries and, as an employee of the store, I got discounts.”

But, in time, she found that she needed more money to upkeep her wardrobe. “Yes, I was always a fashionable lady, and so my closet always had to be well stocked,” she recounted.

Other stores at which she worked included the Colombia, situated at Lombard and Princes Streets and owned by Morris P. Fernandes; and the Bazaar Store at Camp and Regent Streets, which is now a parking lot.

Throughout the years, she had always been a member of St. Andrew’s Kirk on Brickdam and what was then called High Street (Avenue of the Republic). And then, when she considered herself to be of age, she began listening to the sweet whispers of the man of her fancy.

As a young woman, she attended church regularly; and so, naturally, the voice that lingered on her ears was that of Mr. Harding, the Sexton of St. Andrew’s Church. They got married in 1955 but, sadly, he passed away in 1979.

However, she recalls having had a very big wedding. They were married at St. Andrew’s Kirk, and the reception was kept at the Labour Union Hall on East Street.

Their union brought forth one child – a girl — and she is now a grown woman of 54, with many children of her own.

Cecily now lives in the comfort of her daughter’s home at Pouderoyen, and cherishes every moment she shares with her daughter and grandchildren.

As time went by, she was introduced to tea parties and hat shows, and was encouraged to participate in such activities. Her friends who travelled abroad would bring back pretty hats for her, which gave her inspiration, and so she came up with creative designs and kept winning the hat shows.

The majority of her friends and workmates have passed away. “But fortunate for me, I am still around, and I get my NIS pension along with the Old Age pension. Jesus is here!” she declared gratefully.

To date, Cecily continues to attend St. Andrew’s Kirk, and travels all the way from her daughter’s home at Pouderoyen to attend service every Sunday, religiously.

I marvelled at this disclosure, and asked: “At your age, you travel that distance every Sunday?” She clearly did not take too kindly to such a remark, and almost impulsively retorted: “But why persons should think that because of age you’re feeble? You cannot say that of a person! You could just born and you’re not able; and you could be a hundred and able. So that is how life goes. The Maker is there to judge; let Him judge!”

Asked whether she is looking forward to seeing 100, she replied, “Of course! I’d like to be there, naturally. And the Maker is going to make it happen.”

Cecily is blessed with good sight and hearing. She has an incredible memory, and has no communicable disease. She eats almost anything. And just what is responsible for her good state of health to date? She credits her daily talk with her Maker, and being true to Him.
She added: “You can’t fool the Maker.”

And of her diet, she had this to say: “I didn’t grow on too much chocolate and green tea. I grew up with bush tea; and I used to drink cow-heel soup, no chicken foot. I used to play dolly house with chicken foot, and so like that — don’t laugh at me — I am enjoying the chicken foot now; Ah can’t run away from it. Praise Jesus and God bless.”

By Shirley Thomas