Average life expectancy for a man in Belize is seventy two years old, so it's news whenever anyone, especially a man makes it to a the one hundred year old mark. And so it was for Carlton Fairweather who celebrated his hundredth birthday on Sunday. But when we looked into his story, we found that age ain't nothing but a number...the accomplishments are what define this centenarian. Andrea Polanco has more.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
This was Carlton Fairweather on Sunday as he turned 100. The centenarian is pictured here at his birthday party with his daughter, Kamela Palma, the Belize High Commissioner to the UK.
But more than just having the distinction of celebrating his one one-hundredth birthday, he is one of the few surviving Belizeans who served in Britain during World War II.
As this vintage film from 1942 shows, Fairweather like thousands other West Indians joined the world war 2 effort for England. He volunteered to work in the forestry unit in Scotland. He explains what they did:
Una Marson, Jamaican Broadcaster
"Many of you will know of the good work the British Honduras lumber jack have been doing in this country. This evening we have one of them with us, he is Carlton Fairweather."
Carlton Fairweather
"Well, I haven't got much to say except that I represent 900 others who have come over here to help your own forestry and timber workers. We use to get nearly all your timber from overseas from places like British Honduras. But now we have had to sell it and convert it at home and there is where we come in."
In the 'Tree Fellers' documentary produced by Robin MacPherson, some younger Belizeans remember their days as wood cutters in Scotland.
Sam Martines (wood cutter sent to Scotland)
"We were chopping the trees down at first cause there were only small trees, fir and spruce we enjoyed it because we used to cut it."
Wood cutter #2
"Some people never seen colour people before in some part of Scotland they never seen a black man before. They thought we came from the jungle. They thought we were all from Africa. They said where do you learn to speak English, I said that is my native tongue."
Those are the types of experiences that Fairweather shared in as well.
And To celebrate this milestone Fairweather received a proclamation from governor General Sir Colville Young and had a birthday party with friends and relatives.
His family reports that at 100 years old, Carlton Fairweather still reads his letters and newspapers without eye glasses.
You can find a link to see that full 1942 West Indians in Britain video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViGwxJloI70
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