Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
DEAR
SPARKLING WINE, melodious music and mouth-watering food helped keep spirits high as the Gleaner Company yesterday honoured some of its pensioners at a luncheon held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston.
The retirees, who were recognised for their invaluable contribution to the company, used the opportunity to catch up with old pals and former colleagues. There was talk aplenty of days gone by, when employees were not afforded the benefits of today's technology.
Oliver Clarke, the newspaper's chairman and managing director, said he was happy for the opportunity to see old friends. He made particular mention of the company's newest retiree, former deputy managing director Christopher Roberts who ended his illustrious tenure at the company in March of this year.
Hector Lodge, 82, spent more than a half a century of his life at The Gleaner, where he said he dabbled in a bit of everything, ending as preparation and processing manager. Alvin Thompson joined The Gleaner 61 years ago, in 1944. He worked in the camera room for more than 50 years.
A FINE HERITAGE
But there were a few among the crowd of retirees who continue to contribute to the day-to-day production of one of the oldest newspapers in the Western Hemisphere. Among them were Night Editor Harvey Josephs, Opinion Editor Ken Allen, and photographer Junior Dowie; Shirley Rodney, who works in the advertising department and Violet Llewelyn, who coordinates the Directory of Jamaican Personalities.
Guest speaker Winston Dear, immediate past president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Com-merce and Industry, commended the pensioners for their years of service to the newspaper. Mr. Dear, who is also a director at The Gleaner, said that the news-paper boasts a fine heritage and it is through the hard work and dedication of past and present employees, that the company has managed to maintain its credibility and appeal.
The function was chaired by training officer Mary Dick; grace was done by Hubert Marsh while Ralston Getfield, a coordinator in the circulation department, delivered the vote of thanks.
