AN Islander who spent many years working alongside her husband on their farm in St Martin – which included supporting the exportation of Jersey cows to the United States – celebrated her 100th birthday on Friday, surrounded by friends and family.
Iris Beaugie looked positively regal in her throne-like chair at Les Charrières in St Peter, wearing a tiara and birthday sash. The royal nature of the occasion was only enhanced when His Majesty’s representative, Lieutenant Governor Vice-Admiral Sir Jerry Kyd, arrived to present Mrs Beaugie with a card from King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The room at the residential and nursing home – where Mrs Beaugie only arrived in March having lived independently until just a few months before her centenary – was full of well-wishers, including her 89-year-old sister Dorothy, 87-year-old brother Harry, son Brian, daughter Dulcie, and great-grandson Marcus.
Mrs Beaugie [née Rondel] grew up on a farm in St John then farmed in St Martin alongside her late husband Max.
She told the JEP that farming had never been an easy life but “you got through”, adding that her long life was perhaps attributable to having all her family around her.
Long-life in Jersey is something the Lieutenant Governor picked up on when presenting Mrs Beaugie with her card and a bouquet of flowers from Lady Kyd.
He noted that in his three-and-a-half years in the Island, this was the 73rd 100th birthday he had attended, which he found remarkable for such a small place.
