British-born Audrey Deutsch, familiarly known as Margaret, celebrated her 100th birthday on April 1, 2025, at her home, “Bleak House”, in St. Andrew, with family and a few close friends.
President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, was one of Mrs. Deutsch’s special guests.
Noting that his mother’s happiest years have been in Barbados, the centenarian’s younger son, Peter Deutsch, shared that she was born in Yorkshire, Manchester, England, but from a young age wanted to see the world. “She is a Caribbean lady, not much Yorkshire left,” he said.
Mr. Deutsch continued: “I think you have to remember that she was born between the First World War and the Second World War and in England, during the war, it was a very difficult place…. She was absolutely convinced that there was a better world out there…and she went out to find it.”
The centenarian married her husband, George Deutsch, three months after the end of the Second World War and together they had two sons, Peter and Nicholas. Around 1954/55, the family moved to New York, and then to Havana, Cuba, between 1955 and 1956, as part of her husband’s work assignment with an American company.
In 1960, after the Cuban Revolution, the family moved initially to New York and then back to England.
Mrs. Deutsch became a political scientist, specialising in Cuban history, particularly the Cuban Revolution, and wrote her doctoral thesis during her studies at Manchester University. After her marriage ended, Mrs. Deutsch broadened her horizons and moved to Jamaica by herself, with her two sons opting to continue their education in England.
Around 1965, Mrs. Deutsch began teaching at the Mona Campus of The University of the West Indies and remained in Jamaica for nine years. Concerned over the political unrest in Jamaica at that time, she moved to Brighton, Barbados, around 1975, and began teaching at the Cave Hill Campus of The University of the West Indies.
After meeting Richard Goddard, they travelled extensively and eventually settled down at Bleak House (formerly Burnt House Plantation), where the centenarian currently resides. Mr. Goddard passed away in 2021.
Andrea Andries, Mrs. Deutsch’s caregiver for 22 years, described the centenarian as a “no-nonsense person”, from whom she has “learnt a lot”. Ms. Andries remarked: “She is an amazing person. She is so brilliant; she is so intelligent and independent. She does every little thing with her hands. At 99, she threaded the needle to do her own sewing.”
Mrs. Andries noted that the centenarian likes plants and gardening, and in the recent past did minor repairs around the home.
Mrs. Deutsch, who broke her hip in October 2024 and is currently physically challenged, is determined to walk again. She enjoys reading, watching and listening to the BBC.
When asked what she likes most about Barbados, Mrs. Deutsch replied: “I think one is free to speak one’s mind in Barbados and that is very valuable. Nobody is going to sue you for damages…. I think it is important to have freedom of speech…. I feel I have got it here…’
In thanking Her Excellency for her visit, Mrs. Deutsch remarked: “Lovely you could come!” to which Dame Sandra replied: “My pleasure. Enjoy the rest of your birthday. I wish you many more happy birthdays.”
The centenarian also has one granddaughter and two great-grandchildren.
