Beloved Montserrat resident Dorothy Allen celebrated her 105th birthday this week with a joyous celebration surrounded by friends, family and dignitaries.
On Wednesday, 22 January, Governor Sarah Tucker and Deputy Governor Lindorna Sweeney visited Mrs Allen to extend their warmest birthday wishes.
They presented her with a special gift and a birthday card from King Charles III in recognition of her extraordinary milestone.
Deputy Premier Veronica Dorsette-Hector also presented Mrs Allen with a gift basket and delivered a heartfelt speech on behalf of Premier Reuben Meade, whom Mrs Allen fondly referred to as “my friend”.
“We are honoured as a nation to have you, because it represents, for us, the legacy of serving God, and we can see that from your words of long life and being in your right mind,” Dorsette-Hector said.
Although Mrs Allen did not have children of her own, the deputy premier said she has “many offspring” through the countless young people she cared for over the years.
“Today, we honour you and we bless God for you,” she said, expressing hope for Mrs Allen’s continued strength and long life.
She also complimented Mrs Allen on her timeless beauty, jokingly saying she needed some of that to rub off.
“I told the office that I’m going to ask you for the secret, but they have to pay me, so that we can live very long like yourself,” she said.
Watch the deputy premier hand over the gift basket below:
