LOOKING on, it may be hard for some to believe that Nelson Barrington Clonmell turned 100 years old on Thursday, owing to his friendly, jovial personality and remarkable physical strength.
The centenarian, of Nimrod Street, Two Friends Village/Ann’s Grove Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD), enjoyed a celebration of his life among family and friends.
As fellow older ones chatted with him and reminisced about his younger days, Clonmell seemed to have remembered everything, as he was responding and laughing during the conversations.
Senior Probation and Social Services Officer with responsibility for the ECD, Chiaka Hodge was happy to represent Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud in honouring Clonmell. “It was something else to see him walking across the street where the celebration was held. And when I was presenting him a hamper, I knew to myself it was heavy, and we were telling him that he doesn’t have to actually collect it, but he was trying to take it out of my hand. I was so surprised at the amount of strength he has,” Hodge fondly reflected.
Clonmell was born on May 27, 1921, and it was his neighbour, Dellon Adams, who invited the ministry to share in the celebration.