Lancastrian rebel celebrates a century
[caption id="attachment_36307" align="alignright" width="405"] GOLDEN OLDIE: Vee Smith celebrated her 100th birthday with, from left, Gillian Warmenhove, Julia Ramaokane and Gladys Rolon at Kipling's Restaurant last week. INSET: Vee Smith in earlier days. Picture: JUDY DE VEGA[/caption]
LAST WEEK on Thursday Lancashire-born golden oldie Vera Margaret Smith celebrated her 100th birthday with not one but two parties – and said it felt "not much different" to being 99 except "there are a few things that I can't do any more."
After a morning tea at Nazareth House frail care where she now lives Vee, as she is known, went on to be treated to birthday cake and songs from the housekeeping choir at the five-star Boardwalk Hotel in Summerstrand. Hard of hearing, she did not talk much but clearly enjoyed the occasion.
Nazareth carers Sybil Vusani, Jean Thomas, Nomahlubi Senteni, Julia Ramaokane, Gladys Rolon, Thandi Heshu and Katie Ntlokwana gathered at Kipling's Restaurant. Obviously very fond of Vee, each one talked of how she was a pleasure to be around.
Born on June 12 1914, Vee was voted Miss Personality when she was in her 20s and used to model hair, said her daughter Joy Smith last week. "Early in life, Vee showed some rebellious spirit, being the first in her school in 1930 to wear green nail polish to a club, to the absolute horror of her mother!" said Joy, executive secretary to the general manager of The Boardwalk.
Education was not seen as an important aspect of a young woman's life in her time: "If she was well-mannered and had good home training that was enough to one day find a husband," said Joy.
Family friend Gillian Warmenhove agreed: "Joy and I met in 1985 and we've treated each other like family. Even though Vee is 100 years old, she still has traces of when she was full of fun and adventure," she said.
Vee had an independent streak from the young age of 16, when she left school to work as a switchboard operator at a local fire station. At 22 she married an air force man, and remembers well the trying times of the Second World War. After the war she divorced, but in those days divorce papers had to be delivered in person; this meant a trip to Japan where she met John Smith, whom she later married. They were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Joy.
Vee and her husband travelled the world. She has lived in the UK, the Bahamas, Swaziland and now South Africa. They also visited a number of countries including the US, Kenya, France, Mexico, Australia, India, Mauritius and Barbados.
Heshu, Vee's carer for five years, said Vee "often talked to me about her travelling days and some of the things she got up to then. She liked asking me for the date and time."
Ramaokane, Vee's carer for two years at Nazareth House, said "uMakhulu [granny] always wants to know her schedule for the day." - Sinesipho Mbandazayo
