Left: From one elegant resort to another, managing director of the Round Hill Hotel, Josef Forstmayr (centre), welcomes Ritz Carlton's general manager Bob Jensch (left) and his wife Noa among the many guests who attended the 50th anniversary of the annual Sugar Cane Ball. Much to the delight of organisers, Hanover Charities, the event was oversubscribed.Right: United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Brenda LaGrange Johnson, her daughter Heather Sargent (centre) and Shanaz Batmanghelidj-Klotz, wife of Round Hill Hotel's chairman at the Hanover Charity's 50th anniversary ball at the resort, last Saturday night.

Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Hanover Charities' 50th anniversary sugar cane ball - one of the island's largest one-night charity events, received overwhelming support last Saturday night. But the parish's premier fund-raiser, held at Round Hill Hotel, all started with a cow!

In the 1950s, the very charismatic Custos of Hanover, Willy Delisser, along with his wife, Ida, known for their excellent hospitality, entertained many visitors, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, as well as a host of celebrities who came to the island.

The Delissers were great supporters of the community and every Christmas, slaughtered a cow for the hospital and infirmary patients' dinner. This led to the family supporting the disadvantaged of the parish. Each needy family received five shillings and each child, one shilling.

Philanthropic work

Their philanthropic work was noticed by a winter visitor to Jamaica, a Mrs. Bingle, who was so impressed with the family she made a cash donation to help out with the purchase of gifts and food.

With the help of Round Hill's founder, the late John Pringle, the Delissers' efforts mushroomed into an official organisation, a wider outreach programme for the area, once regarded as the 'Cinderella Parish'.

This year's ball was held under the distinguished patronage of Governor-General, His Excellency The Most Honourable Professor Kenneth Hall and Her Excellency The Most Honourable Mrs. Rheima Hall. The bright lights of Hopewell, Hanover, welcomed them to town.

United States Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson and her husband, Howard, were responsible for at least 33 guests who flew in from London, Norway, Arizona, Florida, New York and Philadelphia.

A helping hand

The ambassador, who has a love affair with western Jamaica, was not alone in her thrust to lend a helping hand to the annual benevolent cause at the Round Hill Hotel and Villas, and among her fellow diplomatic colleagues were Germany's Volker Schlegel, Mexico's fabulous Leonora Rueda and Spain's handsome Jesus Silva, eager to learn more about the prestigious event that all started with a cow ...

Last year, the event raised over US$144,000 (J$9.79M) and with an emphasis on credibility, feasibility and project justification, the funds were allocated to over 70 organisations in the parish.

The late Paula Watkins who chaired the association from 2001-2006, has left the mantle for the hardworking and dedicated Katrin Casserly to carry on a feat that could not have been achieved without Round Hill's managing director, Josef Forstmayr, Fenella Kennedy-Holland, Cecile Clare, Roy Ten-Fah, Dorothy Harker, Jennifer Cofer Flanaghan, Bettie Phillips, the Hon. Mavis King, Karen Weller, Sue McManus, Omar Robinson and the hosts of people who give generously of their time and money each year.

The guest list included Kumar and Julie Samtani, Rajesh Kriplani, Ravi and Samara Daswani, Shiela and Sunil Khiatani, Denny and Veena Chandiram, Karen Neita, Godfrey Dyer and Odette Soberam, Nevada Powe, Mark, Candace, Tony and Sheila Hart, Krissy Marzouca, Joan Lee and April Parchment-Knight, Camille Delgado, who has found the secret to youth from husband, Jaime, Earl Levy, Judith Ferger, Ted Ruddock, Margaret Hodges, Dermott and Pam Connelly, Joanna and Kevin Robertson, Vicki and Keith Stein, Michele Rollins, Dennis and Kathy Constanzo, Bob and Noa Jensch were out to celebrate the 50 years of service to humanity.

Left: Donned in their best, Montegonians and Kingstonians turned out in their numbers for the 50th Hanover Charity Sugar Cane Ball, at the Round Hill Hotel, last Saturday night. From left: Karen Neita, Nevada Powe, Odette Soberam, Godfrey Dyer and Josef Forstmayr, managing director of Round Hill.Right: Round Hill bartenders Marcel Finickin (left) and Milton Rose had their hands full at the Hanover Charity 50th anniversary Sugar Cane Ball last Saturday night. - photos by Janet Silvera