BARBADOS’ NEWEST CENTENARIAN George Toppin has a story to tell.
He has captured it all in a book entitled Survivors, published in 2008. However, on Tuesday he had the attentive ear of Governor General Dame Sandra Mason as he recounted some of his experiences.
Toppin, seated next to his wife of 38 years, Erlin Toppin, spoke of a day back in 1942 when he was on a ship bound for England to serve in World War II and it was torpedoed by the Germans.
He was fortunate to get on lifeboat No. 7, but he could see many heads in the water. Though he did not know what became of them, he and the others on the boat had to row for two and a half days until they got to Bermuda.
He recalled that in Bermuda there was only one beach, but it was for Caucasians only, while those of African descent had to bathe among the rocks. With his voice rising, he remembered trying to bathe there once and being told to “come out”.
It would take him seven and a half months to get to Manchester, England, where he stayed for 17 and a half years. During the war he did not go on the battleground but contributed as a chemist and engineer, making crankshafts for the bomber fighters.
While he still has those vivid memories of almost dying, Toppin said he felt great to reach the age of 100.
For Dame Sandra, who called Toppin’s life “an amazing journey”, it was not her first interaction with him because it was she who performed his wedding ceremony.
Toppin said that when he was younger, there was no female Governor General and he had lived to see that change.
“It just shows you how life will change and how beautiful it will be,” he said.
The former chemist who worked in England at the Government Laboratory, said: “I am glad to be alive today,” adding that God and a good wife had kept him through the years.
His advice for young people?
“Trust in God, just trust in God; no one else can do the work. Only God can take you through.”
Toppin’s wife said he was very ill a few years ago but pulled through. He has been at Ocean View Nursing Services in Graeme Hall Park, Christ Church, since last December.
Jokingly, Toppin said his brain did not work as before. Otherwise, he was in good health.
He and Erlin have a 36-year-old daughter and two grandchildren.
Erlin, a retired secondary schoolteacher, said the British influence lasted long after his return to Barbados as he was very particular about how his food was served.
He insisted on eating with a knife and fork, having a glass of wine, soup as the first course, and would not go to the table “bareback”.
“He was very Englishy,” she said. “He bought me flowers every week until one week I didn’t want flowers and he stopped. When he gets really angry, he would be very angry but it would not last for five minutes. He is a very nice and caring person.”
Owner and manager of Ocean View Nursing Services, Linda Bowen, who is a British-trained registered nurse, said it was great having Toppin there.
“Mrs Toppin’s heart was torn when she had to bring him because she was not feeling well and she brought him . . . . We realised he was going to be 100 and we wanted to keep him well,” she added.
The facility was also home to supercentenarian James Sisnett, who was there for almost ten years.
He died in 2013 at the age of 113. (LK)
