On Saturday 30th September 2023, Milton Horace Charles, a World War II veteran and retired police officer celebrated a major milestone: his 100th birthday. The celebration was held at the Mt. Lambert/Mt Hope Community Centre and attended by many including family, friends, well-wishers and members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Retirees Association.

Better known as “Uncle Milton”, “Charlo”, “Solely” and “Sitting Bull”, Mr Charles attributes his longevity to maintaining good health through exercise and lots of prayer. Enlisting in the Trinidad and Tobago Navy at nineteen (19) as an abled-bodied seaman, Mr Charles served twelve (12) years in the Navy and during that period, served on the H.M.S. Black Bear during World War II. He then joined the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service where he served for thirty-one (31) years at the Marine Branch and the Mounted Branch. His family noted that he served the remainder of his employment as a security guard at Angostura.

Mr Charles also enlisted in another type of service in 1998 when became an ordained Minister in the Spiritual Baptist faith further noting that the best advice he has for this generation is “to serve their God in spirit & in truth. Keep doing God’s will, not have conflict and have peace with your fellow man.”

His family notes that in his youth, Mr. Charles was gifted in art and penmanship, and also excelled in swimming, track and field and horsemanship. Despite several age-related health challenges, he still enjoys watching cricket and spends his days praying regularly, sleeping, eating lots of ice cream and exercising once his body permits.