Her voice bellowed across St Augustine’s Anglican Church as Mrs Irene Lake (Bell Bell), Anguilla’s newest centenarian, sang What A Friend We Have In Jesus. Her strong and passionate singing did not surprise the large gathering of family, friends and well-wishers, celebrating with her, as she is generally known for her alertness, high performance and candour.
Mrs Lake turned 100 years on Friday, August 8, the day that a Thanksgiving Service was held in her honour at St Augustine’s, East End, with which she has had a long association. One of the persons she would have wished to be at the service was her ailing husband, Mr Herbert Lake, whose 94th birthday fell on the same day. Married in 1950 their union produced four children: Evan Lake, Marina Lake, Kevin Lake and Monica Lake-Richardson. Mrs Lake was born at Island Harbour from where she joined her husband as residents at The Forest Village.
“God has been with you for all these years; God has protected and guided you and has brought you to this day as you celebrate your 100th birthday,” the Rt. Rev Errol Brooks told Mrs Lake, to the applause of the congregation. “We, as family, friends, and well-wishers, rejoice with you. Thank God for your life and witness over these many years.”
The Bishop continued: “You, Bell, Bell, have a grateful heart. Not only do you express it by saying ‘thank God’, but you actually show your gratitude by sharing with others what God has blessed you with – by seeking to help those who are in need. And all of us who share in this service…need to emulate that attitude. It has been said that the greatest person on earth is not the person who prays the most, not the person who reads the Bible the most, but the person who gives thanks to God the most.”
The Bishop used “gratitude” as the theme of his admonition to his listeners, and he took the opportunity to stress this particular point as an important virtue in everyday life. “Parents, guardians and teachers need to teach our children not to take things for granted, but to say thanks,” he said.
The sermon was followed by the presentation of a Birthday Card to Mrs Lake from Queen Elizabeth the Second, by Governor Christina Scott who expressed her personal pleasure to be at the service.
Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes, noted that Mrs Lake was born a few days after the commencement of the First World War and had undergone some very trying periods. “It was her faith in God that kept her all those years,” he stated. “We hope that Irene will live many more years because we know that she is a very strong woman and believes in her God. We need to go to her to learn what kept her going.”
Mrs Lake’s biography was delivered by her nephew, Mr Kenneth Harrigan, of East End, who imparted some interesting information surrounding her life and service in Anguilla and abroad. He concluded by giving what he said was the recipe for her longevity as follows:
“Mind your own business; don’t eat junk food; treat everyone the way you want them to treat you; and work hard and love what you do.” Mr Harrigan acknowledged that the above words were first expressed by the late Desse Cooper of Tennessee who died in December 2006 at the age of 116 years.
He was joined by Meesha Sorton who spoke on behalf of her mother, Mrs Elmira Sorton (Mrs Lake’s sister who lives in Saba). Two of Mrs Lake’s nieces, Mrs Margaret Augustus and Mrs Amelia Kubisch, sang a well-rendered selection entitled My Tribute for the birthday celebrant.
Mrs Lake, a devout Anglican and long-serving Mothers’ Union Member, was the recipient, seven years ago, of an award for her dedicated service from 1962 – 2007. She was commended on her 100th Birthday by Mrs Ingrid Lake, the Diocesan President of the Mothers’ Union, and presented with a gift by Mrs Pamela Connor of the Anguilla Mothers’ Union.
