97-year-old Hilton “Champ” Lewis is Uncle Eddie’s oldest

Oct 23, 2016 News

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By Isanella Patoir

As the Month of the Elderly progresses with the theme, “Take a stand against ageism”

Uncle Eddie’s oldest is one to for the books. He has been blessed with long life and good health beyond measure. Ageing brings about challenges but so far, the 97 year old has been living a very comfortable life with no complaints. The Senior Citizens of Guyana must be recognised for their achievements and contributions to our society accordingly.
Hilton Lewis was born on March 31, 1919 in Georgetown, to William Lewis and Ada Mascall. He had seven siblings, all now deceased. He attended the St. George’s Government School from 1925 to 1935.
His early childhood was spent on mostly athletic activities. He fondly recounts running around the St. George’s Cathedral as a little boy.
At the age of 16, he wrote and passed what was known as the Pupil Teachers’ Appointment and began his primary teaching career at Lodge Congregation School. He spent one year teaching there before moving to St. Barnabas in 1936.
He then sat three more Pupil Teachers’ Appointments before going off to Teachers’ Training College.
In 1941, he started teaching at Dolphin Government School for a while before moving on to the St. George’s Anglican School. Lewis would have impacted his students and fellow colleagues, especially in the cultural fields of art, sport and music.
He stated that every school at which he taught would have succeeded in the areas of cricket, football and athletics. “Not that I’m boasting,” he followed.
Lewis would have made an impression at 12 primary schools, some of which were Sacred Heart School, Plaisance Roman Catholic School, Christ Church Anglican School, Vive-la-Force Govt. School, where he was appointed to his very first Headmaster’s position, and Mocha Arcadia Govt. School, where he was also the Headmaster.

He moved on to West Ruimveldt Govt. School from the period of 1972 – 1974, and after his retirement in 1974 he was recalled to teach at Beterverwagting Community High, and that stint concluded his teaching career.
Mr. Lewis was also a former Guyana National Service officer, Sports coach and Champion Masters Athlete. He is the uncle of the late Police Commissioner Laurie Lewis and a teacher of the late Executive President Desmond Hoyte.
Lewis is remembered for his tradition of hard work that was second to none. He always demanded and maintained the highest standard in everything that he did. His ideas and ideals were always ahead of time. This signal praise was often repeated by his colleagues, officers of the education ministry, parents and members of the community.
He was very cognisant of the aesthetic values of life and placed great emphasis on them.
He was married once, to Pinky Williams, the mother of his three children – William, Michelle and Shemaine. His wife died 10 years ago, and he says that he believes in morals and only being married once.
His philosophy for life has been love for God and your fellow man. He was quite the humanitarian, and emphasised, “I think we in Guyana talk too much these days, in my time it was more action than words”.
Lewis evinced humility, and empathy at all times. These qualities were reflected in the cordial relationships he shared with his staff and friends during his teaching years. It would be fitting to say that, “You walked with crowds and kept your virtue. You walked with kings and didn’t lose the common touch”.
He is frank and fearless, and if these attributes did not necessarily win favour, they did for him; because everyone that he has impacted throughout his lifetime, has nothing but admiration and respect for him.
He is also a self-taught musician. The success of his choirs at music festivals, his motivation of many pupils in academics and athletics are just some of the noteworthy achievements of his illustrious career.
He will always be remembered for many outstanding qualities, a devoted parent, a disciplinarian, a stickler for fair play, a selfless community worker, a sympathetic friend, to name a few.
He is also known to be the champion of downtrodden.
During this interview, the energetic 97-year-old seemed contented that he has lived this long and touched so many lives. He was awarded the Editor’s Choice Award in 1998 presented by the National Library of Poetry for his outstanding performance in the poetry arena.
And his health?
“I’m still athletic at 97,” he happily stated. “I feel so good; I don’t have any calamity or pains.” He further went on to stress that if he dies, “it would be quite alright, since ‘I’ll die of old age” – of course with a broad smile on his face.
He believes that by keeping fit he’s inspiring the younger generation that if he can do it at his age, then they can do it as well and maybe even live longer, that’s his inspiration. “I recommend that everybody should exercise; when you exercise you strengthen your heart and muscles,” he said.
He says he would normally go out three to four times a day. He exercises, but not as regularly as before, but he tries to keep his body fit, eat well and drink a lot of water.
He’s hoping to be around for his 100th birthday, so that he can “go have a chat and a drink with my friends”.
Lewis now resides at Uncle Eddie’s Home, located in Jackson Street, Tucville, Georgetown. He has been there for approximately nineteen months and spends his days relaxing.
He communicates with his children as best as he could, because he said he’s “not really intrigued by all the technological devices and such”.
His room is filled with memories from his teaching life, as he surrounds himself with pictures from throughout the years. Outside his door there are a number of inspirational writings from Lewis’s life and just above are the letters that read “Champ”.
He enjoys watching cricket and other sporting events, as well as singing and listening to classical music and occasionally sketching and drawing.
Recently the Mocha Arcadia Primary School presented Lewis with a plaque honouring his dedication and service towards the school.
He shared that he is patiently waiting again for his son, William, to visit from overseas for the Christmas holidays and make his famous crab soup and baked chicken.

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