At a function at the Knysna Yacht Club organised by her son Captain (retired) Tony Elliot, members of her family from around South Africa and from England gathered to wish her well and sing her Happy Birthday and She’s a Jolly Good Fellow. Lexie was in sparkling form, cracking jokes and sipping champagne, surrounded by firm friends and family.
Lexie met and married the dashing young South African soldier, Charles Campbell Elliot, in Tripoli where she was stationed as a physiotherapist in the Massage Corps of the British Army. (Elliot, from Stellenbosch had been part of the South African mechanical unit.) Together they had four children, two boys (Anthony and Andrew) and two girls, (Alexa and Elizabeth.) They in turn had eleven children, who then had a further eight children. As she reached the century mark, Lexie had four children, four children-in-law, eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
In a full and eventful life Lexie served in the Red Cross during World War II, and until very recently entertained friends with her beloved accordion and on the piano. She has always enjoyed sailing and boating, and when in 1999 the South African Navy again commenced visits to the Annual Knysna Oyster Festival and moved into Featherbed Bay they were welcomed by 85-year-old Lexie alone in a tiny rowing boat, waving a Union Jack! She currently lives at Leisure Gardens on Leisure Island, but no longer goes boating as her boat was stolen two years ago.
Celebrations were not over on Saturday, as members of the St George's Anglican Church in the Main Road arranged a special tea for Lexie following the morning service on Sunday. Many of the congregation gathered around her to sing Happy Birthday, which Lexie conducted using the carving knife intended to cut her special birthday cake. All agreed she was a much-loved lady and wished her health and happiness.
Lexie Elliott and some of her family during her 100th birthday celebration at Knysna Yacht Club on Saturday, January 4.
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