HE John Robinson unveils the plaque commissioned by the Flamstead Heritage Society, commemorating the visit of the 9th Duke of Argyll in 1866. Others from left are Doreen Frankson, JMA president; Senator Norman Grant; Omar Azan; Senator Burchell Whiteman; Ambassador Peter King; UNESCO Chief Helene Gosselin; Heather Toman; UN Asst. Secretary General, Angela King.
Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
DAAHLINGS, there's absolutely nothing like a good party, and news thereof to cause the collective juices of snob-society to get going, and how!
Luvs, since the story broke of the absolutely fabulously wonderful soiree Ambassador and Special Envoy Peter King hosted at his Flamstead weekend retreat in midweek, everyone has been asking just who made the cut? Interestingly, more and more members of fab-society with that abiding sense of history have been really and simply fabulous in sharing their knowledge of the history of the District of Flamstead!
Dears, for my word, talk about fabulous! Well, fabulous does not get any better legacy than this. Indeed, the very august society, who made the long journey over a sometimes very trying road surface, witnessed the unveiling of the commemoration plaque in memory of the visit by the 9th Duke of Argyll, The Rt. Hon. Sir John Campbell, the Marquis of Lorne and Governor-General of Canada and son-in-law to the Queen Empress Victoria. The plaque was unveiled by High Commissioner John Robinson of Canada, as one of his last official acts last Sunday.
For those who missed the affair however, it was faultless company and then some; with the chicken apricots and cashew salad, and the bread-pudding to die for! As for the secrets of the successful recipes, the host wasn't telling! Hot toddies there were a-plenty however, and so it was that over a scrumptious picnic-style brunch and some fabulous mixes, guests simply whiled away a most fabulous morning and afternoon. It made for a beauty of a to-do!
Now among those out sharing last Sunday's outing to the historic district of Flamstead, and making for a truly wonderful occasion, included: former political firebrand Dr. D.K. Duncan and companion, former First Lady, the oh so elegantly charming Beverly Anderson-Manley; the faultless Thelma Manley; United Nations Assistant General Secretary the regal Angela King; Earl and Beverly Levy; Capt. Michael Lyn and his wife, social empress Thalia Lyn; Information Minister Senator Burchell Whiteman and his flawlessly elegant wife Joline Whiteman; Minister Phillip Paulwell and his beautiful companion Donna Aris; Senator Norman Grant; Arthur Barrett and his wife, the supremely elegant Ambassador Madge Barrett; Ambassador Ellen Bogle; UNESCO's Regional Head, the charming Helene Marie Gosselin; UNDP Resident Representative Gillian Nanton; Honorary Sri Lankan Consul the elegant Marjorie Henriques; the oh so grand Gloria Moodie; Dr. Charles and Corina Meeks; Patrick Lynch; Dr and Mrs. Swithin Wilmot; Ronnie Coke and wife Ethlyn Norton-Coke; Drs. Douglas and Elizabeth Welds.
Also out were: Head of the Jamaica Manufacturers Association, Doreen Frankson; Randolph Olenthius King; the charming Dr. Blossom O'Meally Nelson; Norman Rae; Seragh and Effie Lakasingh; the lovely Fay Sylvester; Joyce Dundas; Head of the School of Music, Winston Ewart; Jamaican's premier music teachers: siblings David and Mary Johns; Ramon Gordon; Lance Hylton and his wife, the charmingly lovely Judy Grace Hylton; Heather Menzies-Toman, visiting from London; wine merchant to snob-society, Tom Finnegan; the lovely Lisa Marzouca; Richard Couch and wife Indi; Claude Fletcher; the lovely Christine King; Omar Azan and his simply beautiful wife Lezanne; David and Sharmelle Martin; violinist Stephen Woodham; Earl de Rizzio; Vivian Gordon; and Lisa Harrison of the Museums of Jamaica; plus several others!
Now, this august body of personalities were only the more recent in the line of a long list of distinguished personages that have either resided in the District of Flamstead and or have made it their retreat since the absolutely breathtakingly fabulous mountain range a gateway to the heavens was first explored by known man. This included: HRH Prince George of Wales (later became King George VI; the colourful Sir Henry Morgan, Pirate and Lieutenant Governor Jamaica; another historic character, but no less colourful, Jack Mansong (Three Finger Jack); former Governors: Sir Anthony Musgrave; Sir James Alexander Swettenham; and the founder of Kingston, Sir William Beeston; sailors Captain William Bligh, Captain (later Admiral) Horatio Nelson, Commander at Fort Charles, Port Royal, and later Hero of the Battle of Trafalgar; Captain Raphael Semmes, the Great Sea Raider of the Confederate States of America; plus a number of other nobles, notables and historical legends.
And Luvs, believe you me, the presence of the ghosts of centuries past made for an even more eerily exciting an outing! You know, the kind of historical sense of awe and wonderment the world tourist experiences, when standing in the Sistine Chapel and drinking in Michelangelo's genius. The awe and wonderment of the world's greatest edifice to Christianity, St. Peter's Basilica, in the heart of the city where Christians were once fed to lions and other beasts of the wild. Or, the symbolism of France's Arc de Triomphe, after the ravages of war and human suffering there is that comparative sense of wonderment and awe at Flamstead, and it all springs from the natural beauty of the range.
The age of Virgo
And so it is Dovecakes, the Age of Virgo is once again upon us, and so the partying continues, as there is much to celebrate!
Daahlings, it's like this: this is one hot zodiacal age with some fabulous people celebrating their birthdays. So here goes as among those celebrating the age of the Virgo includes: the Lady in the news, Folklorist Extraordinaire Louise Bennett Coverly; Angella King, assistant secretary general of the United Nations; advertising powerhouse Robert MacMillan; Dr. John McHardy; Air Jamaica's Capt. Mike Lyn; real estate developer Chris Nakash; Jamaica National's Sonia Ruddock; the fabulously lovely Cecile Levee; Donald Panton; Wyvolyn Gager; legal darling Portia Nicholson Clarke; Ena Jackson Wray, of Mandeville; actor Glen Campbell; entrepreneurial Turk Peter Bovell; Supt. Harry Daley of the JCF; Pure Class Editor R. Christene King; Sonja Sutherland; Paul Jackson; Mara Mandara; Mark-Anthony Schlyffer; Charmaine Johnson-Niazi; the lovely Christina Newman, now of cable's RETV; Roseanne Delfosse-Neuman-Smith; the beautiful Leah Tavares-Finson; young Jessica Marzouca; and the lovely Sulan Smith; plus several others.
Now, tell you all about the all-white Virgoan soiree, anon.
Birthday wishes also to the fabulously beautiful Lisa Hanna Panton, who celebrated in mid-week. Special wishes also to Dr. John Masterton, who celebrates with a soiree today over there in St. Ann. Many happy returns y'all and champagne wishes all the way, into another great year!
It's a boy!
Daahlings, it's a boy, for the beautiful Zein Issa and her hubby Chris Nakash! The lovely couple, whose firstborn Jordan-Ann, celebrated her first birthday a few weeks ago are positively delighted with the news of the December arrival of their son. Grandparents, international hotel mogul John Issa and his oh so charming Jordanian-born wife, the lovely Aida Issa; and real estate power player Albert Nakash and his charmingly lovely wife Su, are all glowing with the news of their second grandchild, by the couple. Caught up with the radiating Zein Issa Nakash last week my dears and the expectant mother is positively beaming, as she readies for her December delivery. Looking fabulous and then some, the one half of the fabulous Issa Twins of Zein and Muna, has not yet decided on the given name(s) for the Nakash/Issa offspring, but all in good time!
In the meantime however, the PR and Promotions dynamo and VP of the Superclubs chain of fabulous resorts is busy enjoying the joys of motherhood, as she looks forward to yet another addition to her young family.
