Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/4547/-1/140/
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Queen Sends Card To Anguillian Centenarian
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Mrs. Arina Melvina Webster, formerly of Island Harbour, is the latest Anguillian to attain the grand senior age of 100 years and to be honoured by Queen Elizabeth The Second. She is the proud recipient of a special Birthday Card sent by Her Majesty from Buckingham Palace in London.
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Acting Governor presents card to Mrs. Webster
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The card, bearing a photograph of the Queen on the front, was presented to the Anguillian centenarian on Wednesday, March 28. That was three days after her actual birthday on Sunday, March 25.
The presentation was made by Acting Governor, His Excellency Stanley Reid, at The Anguillian Newspaper’s office, on the same premises at Stoney Ground, where Mrs. Webster lives with her daughter and son-in-law, Noreen and Nat Hodge.
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A section of the invited guests at the Church Service
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In congratulating Mrs. Webster, Mr. Reid told her that he had learnt from two of the tributes about her strength of character and strong family life. Looking to see what she and her mother, (who lived for 104 years) had in common, he found that they both had ten children. He was pleased that rather than bearing her down, they had borne her up and made her proud.
Mr. Reid apologised for the late arrival of the card from The Queen, but found much delight in presenting it to Mrs. Webster on behalf of Her Majesty.
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Family members in song
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Responding, the recipient’s nephew, Joseph Norris Payne, expressed thanks to the Queen and the Acting Governor on behalf of the family. He paid tribute to his aunt for her continuing long life and contribution to Anguillian society.
Wilma Vanterpool, Mrs. Webster’s daughter-in-law, who chaired the brief presentation ceremony, welcomed the Acting Governor and a number of family members to the occasion. She saw the birthday card as a special honour from the Queen.
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A section of the family members
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The celebration of Mrs. Webster’s 100th birthday began on Sunday, March 25, with a Thanksgiving Service at the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church. The opening prayer was by her grandson-in-law, Pastor Rupert Gray of the Ontario, Canada SDA Conference.
The programme was chaired by Maurice Vanterpool, one of her children. He was of the view that, apart from heredity, her long life may have been due to the fact that she cared her body notwithstanding the hard work and difficult conditions of the earlier times in Anguilla. He was proud of the displinary and positive influence she has had on his life and the lives of his siblings.
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Mrs. Webster surrounded by family at reception
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Mr. Payne, who also spoke, gave some insights into her earlier life and the good parenthood and fine example she had set before her children and other family members. He commended her daughter, Noreen and her son-in-law, Nat Hodge, with whom she lives, for taking good care of her.
Acting Governor, Mr. Reid, presented a birthday card to Mrs. Webster on behalf of the Governor’s Office, while the main congratulatory card from the Queen was being awaited from Buckingham Palace. He was happy to see that despite her advanced age, she was in relatively sound mind and blessed with good health.
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Decorated 100th Birthday Cakes
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The service was followed by a sumptuous luncheon in the social hall at the rear section of the church building.
Mrs. Webster, who was born on March 25, 1907 at Island Harbour, is related to the Vanterpools, Harrigans, Ruans and Lakes. She was one of ten children whose parents were Benjamin Vanterpool and Ann Harrigan.
At the age of 12 she completed school at East End, then run by the Anglican Church. She was offered a teaching job, but declined the offer claiming that she did not have any suitable clothes for the classroom. Instead, she chose to be a domestic worker and served at Island Harbour, The Valley, Sandy Ground and South Hill.
She was married in 1954 to Randolph Webster (Ranny), who she has survived by 28 years. She was the mother of ten children, one of whom unfortunately died, at a young age, while attending the East End School.
She has contributed much to the Anguillian and world society through her children and many grand and great grand children. Among them are educators, medical doctors, social workers, accountants, psychologists and other professionals in the United States and Anguilla.
Her late husband, Ranny, was one of Anguilla’s well-known sea captains. He owned and operated several commercial boats which included The Miss Randolph, The Phantom Star and The Tiny Gull.
Mrs. Webster is a great lover of people. In her younger days shed enjoyed many fun times. Her hobbies included singing and dancing and she looked forward with great anticipation to the jollifications of the day. Now on her 100th birthday, she looks back and smiles at a full and rewarding life.