By Janet Silvera, Freelance Writer 
Pat Wright (left), Catherine Casserly and Joseph Fortsmayr at the Casserlys' party in Kempshot, Camrose, last Saturday. - Contributed
WESTERN BUREAU:
IN-VOGUE clothing, cashmere sweaters and shawls covered the bare shoulders and unique pocket books blended with the trendy fashions. Montegonians came decked out to party at Patrick and Catherine Casserly's 1930s mansion in Kempshot, Camrose, St. James, last Saturday night.
As classical, jazz and contemporary music played in the background from the Bose Surround system, life bubbled into the exceptionally quiet community more than half of the 100,000 persons living in Montego Bay have never had the opportunity to visit.
"It is a different Jamaica, the Jamaica people have forgotten about," said Catherine.
Incidentally, it is not an easy task getting up to Kempshot, as narrow and steep winding roads make up part of the trip, a frightening precipice on one side, mountainous terrain on the other. Kempshot is reportedly 18,000 feet above sea level and the temperature gets as low as 49 degrees (F) during January. Within the half-hour journey out of Montego Bay, sweaters must be donned.
The trip took the Casserly's guests through the communities of Granville, Retirement, Gutters and finally to an imposing entrance lined with several directional torches to their beautifully manicured cobblestone driveway.
On entering the seven-acre property of lush vegetation, one's eyes meet the type of Jamaica Catherine speaks abou -- the old Jamaica that existed years ago, of peace, tranquility, fresh air and security blessed with the most spectacular frontal view of Montego Bay: to the left, Montpelier and the orange groves and Trelawny Beach and its environs to the right. On the top of the hill the breathtaking structure resembles a castle pulled out of Scotland.
The aroma of a suckling pig, roasted corn, roasted 'breshe' (breadfruit) greeted the nostrils, sensitising the taste buds on arrival.
"With all that has happened since September 11 -- with the fallout in tourism and today being the start of the winter tourist season, we wanted to give a party for our friends," said Catherine.
And the guests did come to the party.
Mark and Simone Maffessanti; Joseph Forstmayr; Pat Wright, who now lives in Montego Bay; Steven Dear; Clive and Joan Lee; Gordon and Ann Townsend; Verona Carter; Peter Pearson; Carlene Orr; doctors Jacqueline Chambers-Roberts, Greg Thomas, Clayton and Doris Morgan made up a teeny part of the list of Who's Who that turned out at Kempshot.
