SAMUEL Vincent Neilly’s life has spanned more than a century. When asked how best to describe his 103 years, he said: “The thing about my life is that it has been tough, hard at times, but I have laughed, cried and lived and I will do that until God calls me.”

The father of 14 from The Bluff, Eleuthera, has seen The Bahamas – a territory of 700 islands, reefs and cays – grow long before it became an independent nation.

Born on December 31, 1912, Mr Neilly worked for most of his life as a skilled painter or farm hand to support his family.

Mr Neilly recounted to The Tribune of the challenges of growing up in Eleuthera during the early 20th century, recalling the hardships and struggles to acquire his first piece of land, building his home, losing his first wife in childbirth, being a single father for a time and remarrying.

Mr Neilly now resides in New Providence with one of his older children and has recently started attending the St Joseph’s Adult Day Centre on Boyd Road.

Yesterday, he received a visit from the Governor General, Dame Marguerite Pindling, at the day centre, where she presented him with a basket of fruit as a gift.