Hopelyn Goodwin had hardly got back from a trip to the Black Forest to celebrate a family friend’s 80th birthday than she was presented with a substantial slice of Black Forest Gateau to mark her own 80th birthday. That was at an afternoon tea-party to mark the quadruple celebration within a few days of her birthday, the 50th anniversary of her husband, Clayton Goodwin, in full-time journalism, the 50th anniversary of the pair living in Holmsdale Grove, Barnehurst, and their 59th wedding anniversary. No wonder the piece of cake was so large. Later Clayton and Hopelyn led the speeches to an assembly of family, neighbours and friends at Club IVI (150) at Bexleyheath Broadway. There was a good attendance, matching expectations, in spite of the disarray on the railway system making travel difficult.
Relatives, many from the Morgan, Goodwin, Parsons, Whittaker, Whittaker-Measor and Fox families descended from common grand-parents Harry and Lillian Pennicott, also 97 year-old Ms Verna Stewart (Hopelyn’s aunt), neighbours in Barnehurst, members of the Caribbean Social Forum based in Woolwich, and long-standing friends of the celebrants, several of whom were known to the public, were among those present. Martin Fuller (who attended with his partner Lucina) had known Clayton since their days at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London 1960-64, and former fashion writer Sheila Brown had worked with him on assignments for the Gleaner newspaper and other publications in the early-1960s.
Her Worship Alison Williams, Mayor of Gravesham, was accompanied by her husband, Joe, just a few days since she had been appointed tothe office. Joe Modeste, former musician and promoter, has been prominent in the borough’s activities for many years. He may well have promoted fellow-guest Velmar McGregor who had been a member of the successful Saffron dancers in the 1970s. Natalie Maximin, contributor to Caribcommx, and clad suitably in our orange colours, made a short speech in tribute to Hopelyn and Clayton. Commonwealth gold medallist Lorna Boothe MBE, who is responsible for taking several of the photographs which accompany this review, won the honours in the 100 metres at Edmonton in Canada, and has a long and continuing career in training/coaching some of the country’s leading athletes. Janet Rainford was known to Clayton/Hopelyn long before her daughter, Ebony Rainford-Brent, became famous in the cricket world.
Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth beauty contest, which Clayton founded in 1981 and ran successfully for 30 years before ill-health forced him to hand control to former winner Shirley de Lawrence, was represented by three former title-holders. Lucia Maginley had stamped the image of the title, initiated the tradition of meeting civic leaders, and of promotional trips to the Caribbean. Margarette Alcindor was the first African title-holder and had shown remarkable fortitude when the contest, which was staged on the ferry St Nicholas, ran into a serious storm at sea. Theresa de Rocher, who rode in a float at the Rotterdam Carnival, spearheaded the relationship between Miss Caribbean and Commonwealth and the Antillian communities of the Netherlands. Another guest, Rochelle Allen, is a deputy title-holder of more recent vintage.
Mr / Mrs Goodwin’s children and grand-children welcomed guests and created an atmosphere which was appreciated by the club management – daughter Elaine and her husband Paul, their daughters Evelyn and Vivien, and son Lucien, as well as their own son Robert. (Rob’s wife Netta could not be present as she was on a work assignment in Portugal)