Lester hits the big 100
He left Jamaica for a life in Wolverhampton because his friend had settled there.
Now Lester Streete is celebrating his 100th birthday with guests jetting across the Atlantic to honour the man believed to be the oldest Jamaican migrant alive in the city.
Lester left the Caribbean in 1954 and was joined by his late wife Elma in 1963 – the childhood sweethearts had married in Jamaica 20 years earlier.
Initially, he worked in a factory before becoming the conductor on the number four Pennfields bus route where he worked for more than 20 years before retiring in 1977. Lester is a devout Christian and five generations of his family were at his birthday party which was held at the Holiday Inn Garden Court Hotel, Wolverhampton Racecourse.
This included his five children, a dozen of his 14 grandchildren, all ten great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter.
His two sons, Lenval and Telford, and their families flew from their homes in Canada to join the celebrations.
Lester looked around the packed room, which included Mayor and Mayoress of Wolverhampton Mike Heap and his wife Frances, and said: "This is lovely. I have had a good, long life because I trust in God."
A thanksgiving service was held at Pendeford Seventh-day Adventist Church, Ryefield, for family and a few friends last Friday – which was his actual birthday.
His granddaughter Elizabeth McLean, aged 46, said: "We believe Lester is the oldest Jamaican migrant living in Wolverhampton. He is a devout Christian who, despite his age, endeavours to go to church every Sunday morning."
Lester lived in Zore Street, Pennfields, and Clarke Road, Tettenhall, before moving to his current home in Court Road, Whitmore Reans.