Walton Brown, the Minister of Home Affairs, turned up in person to bring birthday greetings to renowned Bermudian actor Earl Cameron on his 100th birthday in England.

“It was an honour to meet this distinguished and much-accomplished Bermudian and to bring best wishes from the Government,” Mr Brown said.

“We had a wonderful conversation where he shared with me his close friendship with my grandfather W.G. Brown and great uncle D.A. Brown.”

Mr Brown, who was on holiday in England at the time, dropped into Mr Cameron’s birthday celebration, held in the Holiday Inn in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, last Saturday. Several of Mr Cameron’s close relatives travelled from Bermuda to attend the centenarian’s birthday and join numerous other family members and friends.

Mr Cameron stumbled on a career in acting as a last-minute recruit when an actor failed to show up, but went on to become the first black actor to star in a British film.

He broke the race barrier in 1951 in Pool of London, while back home all of Bermuda turned out to see his films.

His accomplishments were recognised in 2009 when he was made a Commander of the British Empire by the Queen in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The Earl Cameron Theatre at Hamilton’s City Hall was named in his honour at a ceremony he attended in 2012.