Berea’s centenarian celebrates milestone birthday

DOUGLAS Griffin who is a resident at Essenlea Lodge, in Berea turned a 100 years old on Monday, 22 May. Griffin who belongs to the Catholic Order of the Knights of da Gama, celebrated his birthday with his Friends and family. Griffin was born in Farnborough, United Kingdom, he is the middle child of three children, his eldest sister Monica and younger brother Frederick. A keen Ballroom dancer, Tennis and table tennis player, he also chose a life of adventure, starting his training and career in the Palestine Police at the start of WWII.

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, the leader of the Catholic Church in South Africa was also present to celebrate Griffin’s milestone.When asked what is the recipe for living this long, Griffin said it came naturally.

“I do not know how it happened but it came naturally,” he said. Griffin also received a letter from the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth wishing him a happy birthday.

“Our whole family looks up to him as a man of God, a man of integrity, a strong leader, a great father, a caring husband, a special grandfather and great grandfather. He has always had a keen interest in wild animals – all sorts of orphaned animals ended up at the house needing to be rehabilitated,” said his wife Madeleine.

After his training and service was completed and the end of WWII came, Douglas left Palestine and went back to the UK awaiting his next assignment.The next assignment was Uganda in the Colonial Police, where he was posted all over the country in various areas that needed his leadership and guidance. Here he met and married his first wife Maureen in 1946. They had two daughters, Delia and Marilyn. He retired from the Police in Uganda in 1962 and relocated to South Africa, not before having completed two overland Land Rover trips with the family from Nairobi to Cape Town and back, exploring and looking for the next adventure.