By Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
President of Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd., Charles Matthews, was 'lights out' as he dances with wife, Brunetta. They were attending the dinner and dance hosted by the Kingston and St. Andrew chapter of the Jamaica Red Cross at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, New Kingston, last Friday night. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
DAAHLINGS, WHAT a blast of a simply fabulous weekend! Dovecakes, it sizzled like a flame in the throes of excitement, and how! Pumpkins, it was a study in fabulousness as it was above and beyond all thing else a party weekend! And for my word, it was a case of getting the groove on from Negril to Morant Point and everywhere in between!
Sweethearts, it was one of those weekends where it was very fashionable to be and be seen in Kingston, as indeed, the city was the destination of choice for 'haute-society' and the absolute chic, as the risk of an outing that could see a mingling with the polloi was enough to shock most into staying in their well socially and securely fortified mansions.
And so it was, that while the young and the party-hearty, flocked to the north, south and west coasts in droves, Kingston was home to the truly fabulous!
BRITISH ROYALS
Now, you all know that fabulous is as fabulous does, and so, while Jamaica was in the throes of celebrating its founding fathers and freedom fighters, way into Monday night, Barbados was the ultimate destination for the international 'A-Crowd' and Blue Bloods. Barbados was where British royals, His Royal Highness Prince Philip and his son, HRH Prince Edward, decided on making it a weekend get-away where they met and wined and dined with a select group of friends drawn from a critically hand-picked shortlist of their friends and associates in the Caribbean.
Doves, it was like that a fabulously intimate and oh so charming a visit to the Caribbean, that saw such notables as international 'A Crowder', and leading hotel mogul and dynamo John Issa, his very charming wife, the tres elegant Aida Issa, and their beautiful daughter, the belle of loveliness Muna Issa, jetting over to Barbados as guests of their Royal Highnesses at an intimate dinner party.
HE'S RETURNING
Still speaking of Barbados, the buzz is that come December 1, leading hotelier Peter Fraser will definitely be returning to Jamaica where he will be taking up the post of GM for one of Ocho Rios' more upscale resorts.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
The fabulously grand Jennifer Lim celebrated another fashionable year yesterday. Today, the Miss World of 1976 and glamour maven, Cindy Breakspeare, is celebrating hers.
Dr. Wykeham McNeill celebrated last Friday; whilst outgoing First Secretary of the Argentinean Embassy Daniel Pepa celebrated two Tuesdays ago. As did the charming Prudence Kidd-Deans.
On Sunday, however, it was all about the charming Gloria Charles, as hubby Pearnel Charles and their children threw a fashionable affaire at the couple's St. Andrew home to celebrate the matriarch's birthday.
And, still speaking of birthdays: oh, so many parties, so little time! Those celebrating included businessman Ian Garbutt, who celebrated two Fridays ago, but was treated to a musicale of a party, the following Sunday, at the Stony Hill Estate of security conglomateur Kenny Benjamin. Friends and family came together for a command performance that saw Dr. Napoleon Ochoa, on grand piano; Robbie Epstein, on guitar; Robin Morris on mouth organ; Cindy Breakspeare working her melodious voice, her hubby Rupert Bent, accompanying her on guitar; Colin Bowskill of the British High Commission on maracas, Alex McCann, also of the British High Commission, doing Neil Diamond all partying up a fabulous storm as they celebrated Garbutt's 52nd year.
There really was no ceremony. Guests simply gathered and over drinks began sharing anecdotal reminiscences and colourful bon mots before dinner. The guest of honour, being subject to a mini-roast of sorts as friends kept making jabs at his 'moving up' in years.
MUSICAL CELEBRATION
Luvs, it was a feast of a musical celebration, toasting the joys of family, friendship and the good-life. From such international stanzas such as Day O, Where Do You Go To My Lovely; One Love, Linstead Market, the Mother Gunter Louise Bennett classic; Sly Mongoose; Island In The Sun; Summertime; and a string of Neil Diamond's hits, plus a host of other favourites, it made for a simply dee-vine do!
Among those out and celebrating were: JPSCo's Charles Matthews; Debbie Garbutt, her sons Sean and Jason Garbutt; Claude Clements; the smashingly lovely Sophia MaxBrown; Carman Hudson; Al Niazi and Charmaine Johnson Niazi; the absolutely fabulous Dr. Saphire Longmore; Muffy Morris; Rajiv Bakshi; the charmingly lovely Janet Farrow; the charming Dorethea Gordon-Smith; the lovely Jean Bowskill; R. Christene King; Lucy McCann and children; Robert Haughton and his companion Heather Blanco; Dr. Maynard McIntosh and the beautiful Karen Terrylonge; and the simply gorgeous Kaili McDonnough; plus a number of others.
