Nonagenarians
Allan Asquith turned 90 recently becoming yet another of St Margaret’ s nonagenarian members. Compared with some of the others, of course, Alan is quite a youngster. Nevertheless, we welcome him to this elite group, congratulate him on his birthday and look forward to his being amongst our regular worshippers for a long time yet. Allan’ s daughter Fiona and he husband Michael put on a party for him to celebrate his birthday. At the party Allan’ s son Ron went through his early life then got Allan to describe his career as shipwright, design draftsman, naval architect and ship constructor, with special reference to highlights of happy and dangerous events. After a delicious high tea they sat down to some musical items from Allan, who had been a classical violinist for over 70 years, including 47 with his beloved late wife Betty. Allan says that, in his old age, he needs our love and friendship at all times.
Eileen Rope reached 97 on 10 February, sadly very much a shadow of who she was a year before. Her three children and various other members of her immediate family and one close friend gathered with Eileen to share a birthday cake with her in the coffee shop at Goodwin Ainslie.
Eileen Elsie Davey was born in London. She was the twelfth child in a family of fifteen. She married Jim Rope in May 1940 and they had 68 happy years together. They migrated to Australia as 10 pound poms with their sons, Brian and Alan, in 1950. A daughter, Jill, was born the following year. Eileen moved to Canberra in 1960 and lived in Ainslie. She later became a member of Reid Methodist Church and worshipped there until it closed in 2006. After that she worshipped at St Margaret’ s until her health prevented her doing so. Following Jim’ s death, Eileen moved to Goodwin Ainslie, first in a self care apartment and more recently in the aged care facility. In recent times she has been pleased to receive Holy Communion from Rev Chris Lockley in the Goodwin Ainslie Chapel each month, having a coffee and chat afterwards with other participants, including other St Margaret’ s people, Pauline Everson and Alice Short.
St Margaret ' s News 10 February 2017