XVI
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE 2016
Independence granny By Michel Outridge
THIS YOUNG lady will be celebrating her 74th birthday on May 26, 2016 which she describes as a milestone indeed and feels very good that it coincides with the 50th Jubilee of Independence celebrations. The Guyana Chronicle met Hulda Johnson at the Egbert Benjamin Exhibition and Conference Centre in Linden on Wednesday during a luncheon and she was upbeat about our anniversary observance. The mother of six currently resides at Blueberry Hill, Wismar and told this newspaper this is her golden years and she must relax having worked very hard almost all her life as a mother and grandmother. She said, “The feeling is good, you know I feel quite privileged to celebrate my birthday on Independence Day this year when it is such a massive event in the city at D’urban Park.” After her husband passed away two years ago, life is somewhat lonely for this centenarian since she lives alone but she works along with women her age at the local senior citizen community centre where they are engaged in craft, cooking and
sewing courses. She said about 35 women were a part of that women’s group and it was quite relaxing to be involved in such activities where her time is spent meaningfully. Johnson is mother of five grown men and one woman. She has eight grandchildren, who have all moved and reside on their own with their spouses and children. She however made it clear that her home was always open to her children, grand children and relatives. Having worked many years as a cook Johnson said she retired some years ago but got bored at home not doing much and she decided to open a snackette at her residence to be occupied. Johnson said “When you are accustomed to working it is not easy to just sit and do little or nothing but with age you get to enjoy the simplier things of life …like sitting by the window watching folks go and come.” She will be celebrating her birthday with a lunch where relatives and friends have been invited. Johnson told this newspaper she would like to visit Georgetown for May 26 but would make that decision later.
Roy Geddes Steel...
From page XI
as successful in bringing ments were first invented about enlightenment and in Trinidad and Tobago, in improving the knowledge the last century, but with base and putting Guyana Guyana’s investment it on the map in terms of can be taken to a higher highlighting expertise in level. this regard. “For the jubilee celeWith many visits from brations I would like all foreigners to his 190 Roxvisitors and Guyanese anne Burnham Gardens, living overseas to pay South Ruimveldt, Georgeme a visit, because it’s town home which houses the only steel pan muse“Roy Geddes Steel Pan um in the Caribbean with Museum”, the “Pan Man” authentic and historical has a beautiful array of facts. History is very imtropical trees and flower portant because a man plants which line the lush without a sense of history walkway to his home, is a man without eyes and workshop and which he ears,” Geddes told this converted to a walk in publication. “The musemuseum. um continues to play an A visitor to this “Pan educational role within the Man’s” paradise was Guyanese community, my accentuated with steel collections date back from pan souvenirs and other 1947.” assortments. In a walkAccording to one of through of Geddes home the many tourists who a vivid and colourful pic- A collection of trophies, awards and plaques along with classic music CD’s adorn a table within the Roy Geddes Museum visited the museum, “he’s torial display of Roy’s a player, a teacher and from raw material to the finished present those involved with steel of Steel Pans, the Pan Podium, successes adorns his walls creator of steel pans and and shelves with an abundance of product. There is also a wide array pan are very reluctant to go the ex- recognised his achievements in his home is a museum to share the reading materials, trophies, medals of trophies and medals to the music tra mile and would scarcely attend development of the music genre. history and passion of the music.” discipline in Guyana and abroad. practice sessions since there is little Roy Geddes is a true Guyanese Upon arrival at his home a beautiand souvenirs. He noted that while the steel discipline in the industry. icon in the steel pan music industry. ful array of flowering plants in full This collection speaks of GedHe is the recipient of two Na- For more than five decades, he has bloom plus a myriad of different des’ successes and contributions pan has advanced technologically, to the music discipline in Guyana the love is not there for the art tional Awards for his sterling dedicated his energies into develop- lights in all colors, and sounds of form, thus hampering its ultimate contributions in the field of steel ing the art form and tuning the steel crickets and frogs greet you. and abroad. pan music. In 2004 the official pan in Guyana. The steel pan museum also success. It is an amazing place that Mr. Geddes lamented that at magazine of the British Association He said the steel pan instru- should be shared with the world. displays the making of steel pans,