| Elbert Blades | |
 Elbert Blades in his centenarian years. | |
| Birth: | 7 April 1902 Belmont, Port of Spain, Saint George County, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Death: | 15 November 2012 Cumuto, Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Age: | 110 years, 222 days |
| Country: |  TRI
|
| Unvalidated | |
Elbert Redvers Blades (7 April 1902 – 15 November 2012) was a Trinidadian supercentenarian whose age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). At the time of his death, he was oldest known living person in Trinidad and Tobago.
Biography[]
Elbert Blades born in Belmont, Port of Spain, Saint George County, Trinidad and Tobago, on 7 April 1902. He was a founding member of the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) and the union's first general secretary. The OWTU was formed in 1937 almost a month after Tubal Uriah "Buzz" Butler, in June 1937, led the historic strike and uprising that did not end until 2 July 1937. He also played a key role in the formation of the All Trinidad Sugar and Factory Workers' Trade Union (ATSGWTU). As the first secretary general of the OWTU he helped save the trade union movement from collapse in 1937 when Butler went into hiding to avoid arrest. Later, he was the last surviving labour hero of the 1937 workers' struggle for better wages and humane working conditions.
During World War II, he left the union to work at the American base at Wallerfield. In 1943, at the age of 41, he married then 21-year-old Muriel Taylor. The couple had six children, three sons and three daughters. He returned to his old job after the war, and later settled in Wallerfield and started a farm. He was the first general secretary of the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU), which was formally established in 1937. His wife died in 2003, at the age of 82, after almost 60 years of marriage.
He received the Humming Bird Silver Medal in 1998 and the Republic Day Award in 2007, worked together with Rienzi, Mc Donald Moses, Caleb Roach and others to create the foundation for a militant and powerful workers' movement. Hewas also a part of the central executive of the People's National Movement party under the leadership of the country's first prime minister, Dr Eric Williams.
On 7 April 2012, he celebrated his 110th birthday, becoming a supercentenarian, as well as the first known male supercentenarian ever recorded in Trinidad and Tobago.
Elbert Blades died from pneumonia in Cumuto, Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago, on 15 November 2012, at age of 110 years, 222 days. Following his death, then 108-year-old Stella Browne became the oldest known living person in Trinidad and Tobago, and then 103-year-old Fitzoy Richardson became the oldest known living man in Trinidad and Tobago.
Gallery[]
Biography[]
- T&T's oldest man: Stay away from 'scavenger' meats Trinidad Guardian, 7 April 2011
- Labour legend celebrates 109th birthday Trinidad Guardian, 13 April 2011
- OWTU founding member Elbert Blades dies at 110 Trinidad Express, 15 November 2012
- OWTU foundation member Blades passes away aged 110 Trinidad Guardian, 16 November 2012
| Trinidad and Tobago's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Elbert Blades • Stella Browne • Soogaree Jattan • Vivian Reese • Una Webster • Rita Smyke • Dharmie Deo • Irving Joseph |
| Trinidad and Tobago's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Elbert Blades • Fitzoy Richardson • Roderick Isaac • Charru Heeralal • Irving Joseph |