Few would have witnessed the extraordinary changes in Bermuda over the last century as vividly as Barbara Roberts.

As a child of a bygone age Ms Roberts would ride the old ferry from her family homestead in St David’s to the St George’s Grammar School.

At 16 she started her first job at the Perfume Factory and was often seen cycling to work when she moved to Knudsen’s Photography in the City of Hamilton. Ms Roberts went on to become a well-known and popular figure in the East End and her death last month marked the final chapter in a 95-year story of one of the oldest St David’s Islanders.

She herself had famously said: “I have seen the Severn Bridge built and demolished.

“I have seen the Railway Trail built and destroyed. I have seen the Southside of St David’s grow and the natural beauty destroyed by the construction of the US Base and then returned back to Bermuda.”

Her son Larry Roberts said: “My mother had so many fond memories of her early childhood.

“She was brought up as a Methodist and always went to church.

She always helped with putting flowers in church as well as baking goods for church sales.

In fact she even made some for the last sale the church had a few months ago.”

Mrs Roberts, née Higgs, was born on May 26, 1920, on St David’s Island to Eric Higgs and Susan Fox Higgs.

She met her future husband, Freddie Roberts, at St George’s Grammar School and the couple married on March 19, 1942. Mr Roberts became a prominent member of the Corporation of St George over many years and the couple went on to have two sons and in 1952 opened the Photo House where Mrs Roberts worked until they closed the shop in the 1990s.

Mrs Roberts passed away in the family home Breeze Brae on Fort George Hill, where they had lived for more than 50 years, on May 20, six days before her 95th birthday.

Larry Roberts said: “We used to talk about the old days in St David’s. She had so many fond memories of days long ago.

“She surely missed the good old days. She always stood by her family in full support of whatever we undertook. My dad was so involved in the St George’s community and mom always supported him in everything he did.

“For my brother, Alan, and I she did everything to bring us up right. Her early childhood must have made her the kind person she was to us.

“We knew what she meant when she said things. She was strong and kind all at the same time.

“She loved my wife Adriana and all her grand children and great-grandchildren. They meant everything to her. We all miss her so very dearly.”