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99 strong!

Published:Friday | May 14, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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Birthday girl Clara McGilchrist (right) gets a hug from nephew Jerome Maxwell.
Clara McGilchrist (second right) with friends (from left) David Patterson, Bev Coleman and Irenia Patterson.
Pastor Wadsworth McAnuff (second left) blesses the birthday cake and Clara McGilchrist (third left), while her relatives and friends (from left) Francis Garcia, Dorothy Kinlocke, Cherry Rae and Carmen Patterson (partially hidden at right) join in prayer. - Contributed photos
Jerome Maxwell, chief executive officer of JAMALCO cuts the cake with Clara McGilchrist, in celebration of her 99th birthday, while Clara's niece Francis Garcia (second right), looks on. In the background are: Dorothy Kinlocke (left) and Jean Forbes (right). - Contributed
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Clara McGilchrist had been planning her 99th birthday for months, so on Sunday, April 25, it was no surprise when about 40 of her closest friends and relatives - some travelling from North America - gathered at her Stony Hill residence for high tea and fellowship.

Her niece, Francis Garcia, flew into the island from Canada days ahead to help her aunt and her aunt's companion, Heather Mullings, to prepare a scrumptious repast. Grand-niece Tami Maxwell from Florida represented her family well.

The birthday cake was almost too beautiful to eat, but was soon devoured following the blessing by Pastor Wadsworth McAnuff.

There were gifts aplenty and lots of hugs and kisses from guests, including nephew Jerome Maxwell, chief executive officer, JAMALCO and cousin Douglas Orane, chief executive officer of GraceKennedy.