SPA UK Sandesh 2017 | Page 34

100 ar e Y e M on t s e il Gopalji ChhanabhaiMistry In January 2017, we were very proud to celebrate the 100th birthday milestone of our father Gopalji Chhanabhai Mistry of Bradford, UK. Born on 3rd January 1917 in Valoti, Bilimora, India, Gopaljibhai emigrated to Nairobi, Kenya at the age of 21. There he enjoyed working in his trade as a carpenter until 1965 when he moved to England. He later called his family to join him. He worked in the booming Textile Industry at that time until he retired in 1962 to care for our mother Naniben who passed away on 13/9/1997. He enjoyed socialising, meeting people and talking about life in India and Africa. He always wanted to live to the age of 100 and receive a birthday card from Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II. He achieved his goal on 3rd January 2017 which we celebrated with our entire family and friends, who travelled from throughout UK and abroad to share this special day with him. Our father passed away on 8th August 2017. He was loving and very kind-hearted. A father of five children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren (two sons and a daughter in UK, and a son and a daughter in Canada), he will be always remembered dearly in our hearts. 52 St Wilfrid’s Crescent, Bradford BD7 2LQ From: Jekisonbhai Gopalji Mistry and entire family (see Shradhdhanjali on page 99) 32 vol. 42 | Prajapati Sandesh 2017