Bermuda CableVision has teamed up with Age Concern to launch a new programme that recognises and celebrates the Island’s centenarians.

The “Legends of Longevity” initiative started last Sunday with a high tea party at Elbow Beach Hotel, where the honoured centenarians were Myrtle Edness, Muriel Lawrence and Ruth Simons.

“We recognise that with all that takes place in our everyday lives we can often forget the role that the generations before us have played in creating the Bermuda that we now enjoy,” Claudette Fleming, director of Age Concern, said.

“We are grateful to CableVision for working with us to honour these important elders in our community. The high tea event has provided two very important opportunities for us: the first is to acknowledge Age Concern’s cornerstone and lifetime members who have made significant contributions to Age Concern through previous service or support of our work in the community.

“The second opportunity is to launch a collaborative effort with CableVision that will continue throughout the year to celebrate those turning 100 years old in our community.”

Ms Fleming added that Age Concern hopes the partnership “will prove instrumental in reacquainting the general public to the treasures of our past so that we might all be greater stewards of our future”.

Mrs Edness, born on July 17, 1914, was married to the late Arnold James Edness and together they owned the AJ Edness Grocery Store and had two children and three grandchildren.

Mrs Edness, who is a member of the Christ Presbyterian Church in Warwick, was a member of the Girl Guide organisation of Heron Bay, the Socratic Literary Club, of which she is a past secretary and president, and the Samaritan Lodge, where she served as Secretary. She has also been a volunteer at the Masterworks Museum.

Mrs Lawrence, born on March 27, 1915, worked for many years as a chambermaid at the Coral Beach and Tennis Club and has six children and 23 grandchildren. She is a member of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Hamilton Parish.

Mrs Simons, born on January 17, 1915, had six children with her late husband Arthur — three sons and three daughters. She worked as a waitress at Horse ‘n Buggy Restaurant, Buckaroo and Sea Venture and is a member of Praise Palace Church of God of Prophecy and the Sukinah Worship Centre.

The three ladies were joined by Doris Corbin, 103, of Pembroke and several CableVision employees attended the High Tea, which also featured Andrew Chamberlain performing on the piano, as well as tea, cakes and sandwiches provided by Cafe Lido. Rollin Nathan, of CableVision, added: “We thank Age Concern for their outstanding work on behalf of Bermuda seniors, and for bringing to our attention these amazing ‘Legends of Longevity’.

“They show us so much about life itself, what is important, and how vital they are to the fabric of our society.

“CableVision is a company that focuses on and treasures the family, and we are proud to honour these special ladies and show them our gratitude for the wisdom and love they have spread in their families and in our community throughout the years.”

A video of the event will be shown on CableVision’s channel 99.