The Golden Elite Auxiliary of Allen Temple AME Church, Somerset, had two significant factors to capitalise on for their last monthly social and cultural meeting.

One was Valentine’s Day, the other was taking note of the start of February as Black History Month.

Elites from one end of the Island to the other enthusiastically joined Elite Coordinator Doyel Stocks as she expounded on the Legend of St Valentine, followed by her sister Elitist Venita Smith, who homed in on the black history. It was explained to Yours Truly, this columnist, that while all seniors are regarded as elite, five had been singled out as Special Elites because they had so freely and abundantly given of their time and talent to the church.

Honoured were David Darrell and his wife Marilyn; Reginald Simons and wife Joan and Dauphine Dickenson.

They were saluted by being served lunch, while everyone else had to line up for the buffet. Additionally, they were focused by all others on the programme.

A stirring event was the performance of a play titled God’s Saving Grace and the Power of Prayer, written by Elitist Gracelyn Guishard. Performers Joyce Eve and Jennifer Hall evoked real tears and a standing ovation from the audience.

A distinctive feature of the Allen Temple Golden Elites is the emphasis they place on urging attendees to dress in accordance with the theme of the day.

The greater emphasis was of course, Valentine’s Day.

Elite Dorothy Morrisey was judged by audience applause for the title of “Mrs. Velentineus”. She wore a hat fashioned from a box of chocolates her late husband had given her as a Valentine gift more than a decade ago.

Also applauded was Rose Glasfield, a Californian visiting friends in Bermuda.

She said she had dressed in proxy for her New York Aunt Beulah Bullock celebrating her 102nd birthday on February 3; and Aunt Minnie White in North Carolina, 94 years old on February 14, 2015.

Coordinator Stocks enlightened the audience with a history on the Legend of St Valentine.

Although the day and story of its patron saint was shrouded in mystery, it was known that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance. As Valentine’s Day is known today, it contains vestiges of both Christian and Roman tradition.

The Catholic Church recognises at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One was a priest who served during the third century in Rome.