E.R. Braithwaite, the Guyanese author, educator and diplomat whose years teaching in the slums of London’s East End led to the international best-seller “To Sir, With Love” has died at age 104, The Associated Press (AP) reported today,
Braithwaite’s companion, Ginette Ast, told AP that he became ill on Monday and died at the Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Maryland.
“To Sir, With Love,” his first and most famous book, was published in 1959. The autobiographical tale about how a West Indian who scolded, encouraged and befriended a rowdy, mostly white class of East End teens was a success and transformed into a film. Sydney Poitier played Braithwaite (renamed Thackeray) in the 1967 release and the pop star Lulu was featured as one of the students. The title song, performed on screen and on record by Lulu, became a No. 1 hit, AP said.
Braithwaite was on August 23, 2012 conferred with a National Award, the Cacique Crown of Honour.
The 100-year-old author was in Guyana, serving as the patron of the Inter-Guiana Cultural festival.
“I am surprised because I did not expect an award. I don’t know that I have done anything to deserve the award but, I am grateful for what the award represents,” Braithwaite, who served as a diplomat in the formative years of Guyana’s independence, told members of the media following a simple investiture ceremony at the Office of the President. The Government Information Agency reported that President Donald Ramotar conferred the award on the author.
