KUCHING: Lady Roberta Simpson, the sixth generation of the Brooke family who used to rule Sarawak, has finally made her way here.
Roberta, 82, is the granddaughter of Charles Vyner Brooke, the third and last Rajah who ruled from 1917 to 1941. She is also an author of three children’s books, and has had the opportunity to read her stories to school children.
Since arriving here on July 28 with her husband, Sir Kyffin Simpson and daughter Heidi, she was amazed with the warm hospitality offered by local Sarawakians.
“I don’t know what my expectations were, if I had any. I knew the history of Sarawak and my family’s history. I didn’t know where I fit in exactly because that was some time ago.
“The people of Sarawak are so warm and have welcomed me well. I now understand why my grandparents talked so much about Sarawak. It’s because they loved the people here,” said Roberta during a media conference at the Old Court House here yesterday.
She was accompanied by her cousin, Jason Brooke, who is the Brooke Trust director and great-great-grandson of the second Rajah, Charles Brooke.
Roberta revealed that she used to hear stories about Sarawak from her mother and grandmother when she was growing up, but found herself too busy to come until now, after 82 years.
“My mother used to tell me a lot (about Sarawak), and I think one of the reasons I didn’t want to come when I was younger was that she told me stories about finding cobras in her bed or about the crocodiles.
“The stories that impressed me most came from my grandmother, who spoke of the people and the different ethnic groups. She was a painter and did beautiful portraits.
“She used to tell me that the women of Sarawak were the most beautiful women in the whole world,” she said, adding that Sarawak more than lived up to the stories.
However, after her meeting with Jason last year, she said that she had to visit Sarawak, even if it took three days to travel here from Barbados.
During her time here, Roberta and her family have visited the Astana, Fort Margherita, Sarawak Cultural Village and Bako National Park, among others.
