Active centenarian celebrates major milestone

On the eve of his 100^th birthday on Friday, Fitzgerald Brereton, BSM, JP renewed his driver’s licence.

Today, as he became Barbados’ newest centenarian, he made a plan to drive to the official residence of President Dame Sandra Mason to celebrate her birthday on January 17.

Brereton, a sharp, witty, healthy senior marked his milestone with President Mason on Zoom and surrounded by his family at his Cottage Heights, St George residence.

“I feel very, very good I have reached this milestone,” he declared.

Longevity is a hallmark of Brereton’s family. He recalled that his mother died at 99, his aunt at 102 and another relative is on the cusp of reaching 100.

The former electrician who retired at 70 after working at several companies, including the Barbados Foundry and Mount Gay, has hardly slowed down.

The devout Christian still attends church at St Luke’s Anglican and attributes his longevity to God, saying, “I can’t say [why I reached 100]. All that is left to the master.”

He is, however, grateful and intends to continue to enjoy life.

“I wonder as I go around and see other people that are younger than me, lying there and can’t say a word. I am still wondering and praising God all the time that I am yet able to move and still have my wits about me,” he said.

Brereton, a former key member in the credit union movement, lost his father at an early age and he took on the responsibility of caring for siblings.

“It was tough,” he said.

At the age of 21, he married Lilian and that union produced nine children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Brereton, who still walks around the neighbourhood, is not a lover of meat but enjoys ground provisions.

With his big day behind him, he is now looking forward to meeting President Mason in person later this month.

He quipped: “I was always planning to go and see her, whether she invite me or not.”