THANKSGIVING SERVICE HELD FOR AUBREY DE CASTRO

A thanksgiving service celebrating the life of Mr. Aubrey Alberton de Castro was held at the Road Town Methodist Church on Saturday May 3rd. Mr. De Castro, 81, was born on January 9th, 1922 in Freeman's Village in Antigua but in 1943 he sailed to Tortola, where he was to spend the rest of his life. He was a skilled tailor and pursued that profession here. He married Cynthia Alice Almyra Rymer on June 14th, 1945 and they had four children.

In 1950, Mr. De Castro joined the government civil service working first as a clerk at the Post Office. Later he was transferred to West End where he served as Customs Officer. In 1966, he attended a six-month Customs and Excise Course in England.

During the years when the Road Town jetty was initially reclaimed and developed, Aubrey served as Comptroller of Customs and retired from this position in the civil service in 1969.

In his younger days, he played cricket and was a member of the Rockets along with Ovie Shirley, William Penn, Ira Smith, Cyril Romney, the late Sydney Brathwaite and others. He was also a skilled bridge player and 35 years ago he was one of the charter members of the Rotary Club of Tortola. On retirement from the civil service, Mr. De Castro started a customs brokerage business that he operated until his passing. He also entered into a partnership in the early '70's with Mr. Patrick Julian, a licensed pharmacist and operated a pharmacy for a few years.

Mr. De Castro is survived by his sons Joseph Edward Alberton de Castro, Paul Ricardo de Castro, Richard Courtney de Castro, Arthur de Castro and Louis Smith, daughters Miriam Isola de Castro Narine, Margaret Almyra de Castro Penn, Lucille Smith Phillip and Desiree Diana Todman, brothers Dante de Castro, Ian de Castro and Paul Christian, son-in-law Romney Penn and daughters-in-law Gretta de Castro, Carmen de Castro, Violet de Castro and Mavis Smith.

His survivors also include brothers-in-law Arthur Rymer, Rev. Canon Lionel Rymer and Clayton Jonas, sisters-in-law Janet de Castro, Lucille de Castro, Claudia Christian, Doris George, Gwendolyn Rymer, Margaret Borde and Avis Hosein and several grandsons, granddaughters, nieces, nephews and cousins and other relatives and friends.

The late Aubrey de Castro was a member of the Road Town Methodist Church and attended regularly until he lost his sight in November last year. He then attended services with his family more regularly at the St. George's Anglican Church.

He died on Thursday April 24th, 2003 at Peebles Hospital in Road Town, Tortola, BVI.

The publishers, management and staff of The Island Sun newspaper extend their sincere condolences to the bereaved.