‘Daddy Bas’ is SVG’s newest centenarian

Roderick Bascombe, fondly called ‘Daddy Bas’ by his friends, is St Vincent and the Grenadines’ newest centenarian.

He joined the exclusive club of centenarians here at home and the world over when he celebrated his 100th birthday on Sunday, October 25, 2015.{{more}}

On the eve on his birthday, the Stubbs Seventh Day Adventist Church held a celebration service, spearheaded by Brian Davis and his team at Stubbs, to mark Bascombe’s milestone achievement.

The centenarian sang a hymn and gave God thanks for sparing his life. He was showered with gifts and presented with a trophy.

Bascombe also received a visit at his home from the Governor General’s Deputy Susan Dougan on Sunday, October 25.

He is the son of Herbert ‘Herbie’ Bascombe and Amy Payne of Stubbs. He had three brothers, Piercy and two other male siblings, both named Kenneth. He also had a sister called Ethel Dowers. They are all deceased.

Bascombe plied his trade as a mason before leaving for Trinidad in the 1930s to make a better life for himself. He later migrated to the Dutch isle of Aruba.

While in Aruba, he met Catherine Julien and they got married in December 1959. They returned to St Vincent and the Grenadines in January 1960.

Daddy Bas was a Methodist, but later became a Seventh-Day Adventist. As a Seventh-Day Adventist, he was one of the driving forces that helped to spread the Seventh-Day Adventist message in the community of Stubbs and later played a significant role in building the Stubbs Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He used his own resources to purchase the land for the church and his skills to construct the building.

Over the years, he led the church as the first elder, and served in the field as a literature evangelist, spreading God’s word throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines and the Caribbean.

Bascombe was also a farmer and produced peanuts, as well as potatoes over the years. He retired from farming at age 98.

On October 10, 2000, he lost Catherine, his wife of 39 years. He later remarried in June 2003 to the former Stavy Spring.

Besides living a dedicated life as a Christian, Bascombe is widely known for his assistance to many people in the community, giving many a start in life by selling his lands to them below market price.

He is a passionate fan of the West Indies cricket team and can still be seen glued to his television whenever the West Indies is playing. He has remained one of their staunchest supporters over the years.

Daddy Bas continues to serve God and intends to do so until the end.