One hundred and not out

Today we celebrate the 100th birthday of a priest brother who is still very mentally alert and physically active. He is clear that at the chapel eucharist (packed out with his family and friends)
it will be the Feast of the Epiphany and not his birthday that will be being celebrated. He arrives at his centenary just a week ahead of a lady resident in another Pension Board house.

The Church Times recently reported a 100 year old priest in Wells celebrating the eucharist himself and preaching entirely from memory, because he is blind, on his birthday.

Also I read in the national press that the oldest Britain, Annie Knight, has just died aged 111.
The oldest person in the world is Elizabeth Bolden of Memphis, Tennesse and she is 116.

The life and ministry of our centenarian is described in verse by another priest resident here under the title "One Hundred Lines for January 6th 2007". Here is a bit of it:

A boy was born on sixth of Jan -
That's how this lengthy tale began:
Nineteen 0-7 - the future bright!

.....the powers that be
considered that eventually
As an archdeacon he would best
Use all the gifts that he possessed.

A new hall on the Esplanade
With all mod cons - why ask for more?
He'll settle in, be happy here,
To plan for his centennial year.

Punctual as ever, he still feels
His duty to be prompt for meals.
He takes a morning stroll, but yet
Walks the long corridors when wet.
No more committees, nor debates,
Budgets, conflicting diary-dates.
No talk of graveyards, budgets, heating,
Nor the next Church Commissioners' meeting!
And(blest relief) no altercation
At any awkward Visitation.

His brain's alert: he puzzles most
At crosswords in the Yorkshire Post.
There's time for snoozing, and to see
Snooker and Countdown on TV.
No further shame at his addiction
To problems in detective fiction!

As Archdeacon Emeritus,
Accept our grateful thanks and praise.
We wish you well for future days,
Quite confident that you will cope,
And face what lies ahead, with hope.