Somerset West resident Edward “Ted” Brown celebrated turning 100 years old with a surprise spin in this vintage beauty lovingly owned by neighbour Keith Brown last Thursday morning (20 October).
In honour of the beloved centenarian and the special milestone, he happily played chauffeur and treated the elder Brown and his 92-year-old friend Chris Williams to a ride in the back of the bottle-green Ford Model A and a pit-stop at Lourensford Estate, where they admired the display of other classic vehicles.
Brown was born in Bootle, Liverpool, England on 20 October 1922. Together with his parents and two sisters, he emigrated to South Africa in 1936 and started a new life in Vereeniging.
At age 31 he resettled in Somerset West, where he established himself as a draughtsman at AECI (De Beers Dynamite Factory) and met the love of his life, Patricia Taylor. They married in 1955 and had a son, Gregory.
On retiring from AECI, he carried on working for Distell in Stellenbosch for another five years, designing wine cellars for farms. After six years of retirement, he sadly lost his wife. Years later he met second wife Paddy, with whom he spent 25 happy years.
Brown is described as a true Libra, the glue that keeps everyone together, an intellectual, a celebrator of special occasions and a gentleman who enhances friendships and relationships. As a keen lover of sport, he played competitive cricket for Somerset West Cricket Club in his younger days. He is also an avid reader and enjoys listening to music. He is a religious man, the Catholic faith an integral part of his life. He boasts four grandchildren, Robyn, Joshua, Jared and Gabriella, and recently became a great-grandfather. Brown remains sprightly, in good health and of sound mind.
