Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer
Betty Ashley and Harold Brady test the dance floor at a party last Christmas.
It was supposed to be a sort of lyme, the kind of a 'do', where friends and family gather and celebrate the moment. So guests turned up at the host's upper St. Andrew residence, fabulously outfitted in the best of Summer fashion. No one expected a fabulous party but this is exactly what they got.
My daahlings, no bystanders here, as it clearly was not that kind of a party! Here we got a lesson in how to throw a fabulous 'little' do, with the ease and effortless grace of those intimately associated with civilised decorum and good taste.
It was really a very odd time to be having a party as with August 1 being Emancipation Day and falling on a Tuesday, many argued that it was a bad time to be hosting a party as many would either be out of town and or in limbo waiting to leave for the Independence weekend. And so, the prevailing thought was that August 1 would be a bad day to throw any type of a do.
And luckily for those who attended, the host ignored the unsolicited advice of the few and stuck to his guns.
no setbacks
"After all," said he, "I am celebrating my birthday, and I was born on August 1 and August 1 it will be then."
The host in question is attorney- at-law and onetime political power-player, and social powerhouse, Harold Brady.
And so it was, that last Tuesday, it was all about the Cherry Gardens domicile of the urbane lawyer for his birthday celebrations.
Well pumpkins, you can bank on this one - if you want to gauge the potential success of a party/event, then check to see just how many people call up and or solicit invites before the actual affair.
Well honeys, when word of the 'do' hit the byways, highways and corridors of power and high-society, there was an almighty rush to make the cut. And so y'all know that Brady would be having a smasheroni on his hands. Well sweet pumpkin pies, he did and how!
Honeys, I'm a-telling you, it was one swelteringly fabulous affair and then some! We are talking tropical heat of the fabulous kind, and my word, did it sizzle! Oh, honeys, talk about a social heat wave, well honey buns, this was it!
Precious angels, we are talking one fabulous party and nothing but, as this was clearly more than just a lyme as guests simply made it buzz like only few St. Andrew doos can!
since noon
The host actually invited guests to join him from midday or thereabouts. Well, if he was expecting a rush of his friends and or colleagues, then or around then, he must have been sorely disappointed, because my dears, it was not until late mid-afternoon, before the majority of his invited guests waltzed in and with the rush of new energy, what was up until then a very tame affair, took on the energy of fabdom, and honeychiles, no one looked back!
The fabulous residence was decorated to reflect olde Jamaica, and grounds fabulously done to offer maximum ease and continental style with marquees and libation stations, café-styled lawn settings; and a battery of wait staff who took no prisoners in their crisp and professional service all afternoon long!
Luvs, there was no standing around here waiting on a drink or on the fare as the well-prepared cadre of staff were in anticipatory mode, and thus was there with a drink and or serving of the scrumptious fare, by the lovely Lorraine Fung. And, in between the sips and thrills, spills and fills, the DJ had guests snapping all afternoon to the best of the current crop of pop tunes around, so little wonder that when afternoon became dusk, all hell, 'bruk-out' on the dance floor!
partied 'til dawn
Doves, it was the host's birthday, and he was feeling no pain, and so he hopped skipped and danced up a glow from early mid-evening way past night time and at no time was he alone.
Oh, the blessed Virgin, what a party! It was an August gathering of some of the nation's leading personalities, and then some! And it was 1:00 a. m. Wednesday that it all ended!
Among the notables spotted, were: his sibling Kay Brady-Brown, and her hubby Dr. Paul Brown; nephew Dr. Pierre-John Holmes and wife Dr. Anissa Holmes and their children; security conglomateur Kenny Benjamin; Mrs. Lorna Golding; Kingsley Cooper; the charming Anne-Marie Feanny; Tom Tavares-Finson; the stunningly lovely Suzie Benjamin; Rae Barrett; Rupert Bent and wife Cindy Breakspeare; Steve and Betty-May Ashley; Ronnie Coke and wife Ethlyn Norton-Coke; Senators Dorothy Lightbourne and Shirley Williams; MPs Carl Samuda and James Robertson; Mayor of Port Maria Bobby Montague; banker Milton Brady; Steve Twomey; Gail Walters; Laurie Broderick; Betty Delfosse-Ingleton and Patrick Bailey
Also out were: the elegant Peju Wilson; Dwight Moore; Danville Davidson and wife Dr. Marjorie Vassell-Davidson; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Scott; DCP Mark Sheilds and his son Nicholas Sheilds; Ann Alexander; Al Niazi; Mrs. Valerie Juggan-Brown; Dr. Peter and Shelly Glaze; Donna Harpaul; Rajiv Bakshi; Cable and Wireless VP David Reavely and his lovely wife Diana Reavely; MiPhone's Alex Hill and his fabulous wife Cheryl Hill; Micky Hill; Lisa Marzouca; Vinay Walia; Vernon Davidson; R. Christene King; Claude Clements; Marcia Chin; Marvin and Nicole Wong; George Duhaney; Mrs. Lorna Green; Douglas and Nadine Thompson, and their children; Kathy-Ann Pyke; Ulle Bangerter; Joyce Young; former Miss Jamaica Universe Dr. Saphire Longmore and companion Alex Dropinski from the EU Delegation; Don and Ayesha Creary; former Miss Ja. Universe Nadine Thomas; Seyon Hanson and his companion Marsha Wilson; Gawain Forbes; the lovely Valerie Smith; Robert Haughton; the gorgeous Tracy Moses; Gavin Gunter; Shelly-Ann Daley; the leggy Josephine McGann; the fabulous Rochelle Cameron; Andy Bailey and his lovely companion plus Georgia Langley. Then there were: international hairstylist Paul Windle and companion Christine LeRoux, in from London plus several
scores more.
