Happy 100th birthday, Elsie!
Friends and family from as far away as Philadelphia and Boston in the United States came to Benderloch to wish 100-year-old Elsie Kennedy happy birthday, writes Kathie Griffiths.
Mrs Kennedy’s family threw a party for her with cake, balloons and flowers at Ford Spence Court where she lives.
The youngest guest was her two-year-old great-granddaughter Freya Kennedy. Great-grandson Aldred Gibson, 11, was also there.
Mrs Kennedy was born in Georgetown, the capital of British Guiana, now known as the independent nation of Guyana, in South America. Her father was a Methodist minister and her mother was an English teacher. She spent her early years in Barbados until returning to England with her parents. She was the youngest of two brothers and a sister.
It was while she was working as a young Methodist missionary in Sierra Leone that she met her future husband Sam Kennedy who was a radio operator in the Merchant Navy.
The couple spent time apart while Sam was at sea, but were married a few years later back in England.
For a while they lived near Loch Etive at Achnacree Bay before moving to Connel where they settled, having a daughter Jean and a son Donald.
Mrs Kennedy, who now has five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, was greatly involved in church life, the Woman’s Guild, the WRVS and meals on wheels, and she was often invited to give talks about her interesting younger years abroad.
‘I’ve known such kindness in my life and made many friends. I have a wonderful family. I’m blessed,’ said Mrs Kennedy.