By Avia Ustanny, Outlook Writer
Brown-Hamilton is mother to three-year-old Tiffany. - Ian Allen
RESIDENT MAGISTRATE Velma Brown had the wedding of her dreams when, four years ago, she tied the knot with international business consultant Trevor Hamilton.
The fairy tale affair included a white-horse drawn, glass coach ride and photo-sessions with Micky Mouse. Forty, fluttering white doves were released when they said their vows.
Brown-Hamilton waited a long time to meet the man of her dreams. Now aged 41, she met and married Trevor Hamilton, managing director of the management consultancy firm Trevor Hamilton & Associates and hotelier, in a whirlwind affair four years ago.
The meeting happened because she was indulging in cooking and entertaining, one of her favourite hobbies. While living and working as a Resident Magistrate in St. Elizabeth, she made a dinner for a close female friend who arrived with Dr. Trevor Hamilton in tow.
Trevor, Velma says, was intrigued by the decor of her house and the dinner spread, all of which she had done herself. A whirlwind courtship ensued. The rest is history.
Changes
Soon after her wedding, she was pregnant and said goodbye to the Bench. Daughter Tiffany was born to much fanfare from friends, who filled Velma's hospital room and home with flowers.
The three-year-old, a bundle of energy, was babbling questions at a faster rate than her mother could keep up when Outlook visited.
"I take her everywhere with me," Dr. Brown-Hamilton admitted, saying that she has no problem doing this as a professional woman.
As she trailed through her home, Tiffany was often only two steps behind.
The Hamilton home in Cherry Gardens is opulently furnished with classic drapes and furnishings. To the question of who was the designer, we get a surprise. The lawyer, again, did it all herself.
"That's my part-time hobby," she proudly admits. When the house was first acquired, it was half the size it now is. Downstairs were a warren of tiny rooms. We opened them up, tore out the walls." The result is an exquisite, multi-level area, living and seating.
Bedroom
The master bedroom upstairs extends the full length of the upstairs and features a jacuzzi.
An upstairs passageway was used to gain access to a new, expanded roof patio, which is now home to Brown-Hamilton's St. Elizabeth-born roses.
Serving her guests fruit punch in the waning evening light on the roof, she told us, "This is my favourite place. I love the outdoors...nature."
At night, the views ought to be magical. The roof affords a sweeping view of the Liguanea plain.
Brown-Hamilton has also worked her designing magic at Invercauld which is owned by her husband, and where, in the last couple of years, some $95 million was spent on re-developing the grand great house.
The property, redecorated to recapture the past, but with a signature Caribbean look, will now specifically cater to heritage and environmental enthusiasts.
Wedding in paradise has also come to the Invercauld, as it is now featuring a new package dubbed "Reggae Paradise" Weddings.
That concept is the brainchild of Brown-Hamilton who clearly has no problem multi-tasking.
The lawyer conducts a private practice, primarily in corporate law, from her offices in Kingston.
Velma Brown-Hamilton began her professional life as a teacher, a career which she says she thoroughly enjoyed. But, five years after teaching at Campion, she said goodbye, determined to find something more challenging.
Rewarding
One year in the insurance industry was quite rewarding and the young woman was able to acquire an apartment and a car. Then came the decision to apply for law. Out went the house and then the car, to pay her fees. "It was an easy decision to make," Brown-Hamilton quips. She says she considers education to be an investment.
She had done well in insurance, and later excelled during a stint in marketing, but law she said, was her real calling. Her principal at Westwood, Ms. Etta Whiteman, had told her that she would excel in almost any field. This was to prove totally accurate.
Velma entered into private practice with John Gibbons as a partner and then moved on the Bench as a judge. Today, she is a partner in Brown Hamilton and Associates.
The achievements have not slowed down. The lawyer recently collected a PhD in Business Administration, "just because".
Before that she collected a Master's degree in International Relations. "I learn for the sake of learning," she told Outlook.
Recently she bought some French CDs. She will be learning French next.
Her husband is frequently away from the island on business, but this troubles the busy woman none at all. When here, he has quite a time keeping up with her. She quotes him as saying that he does not like all that she is up to but that every thing she does is well done.
Dr. Trevor Hamilton, she says, supports her in everything she does and was very enthusiastic when she did her higher degrees. "You would think he was my supervisor," she quips.
Her life, however, is far from being all about home and family.
Charitable projects
Dr. Velma Brown-Hamilton is deeply involved in charitable projects and has adopted the children's home at next door to Invercauld in St. Elizabeth.
While living on the south coast, she would anonymously distribute presents to all the children on the children's ward at the Mandeville hospital.
The lack of education among so many Jamaicans is her pet peeve, she says. She wishes more people would understand the value of it. But for the years in school, her lot would be not different from many Jamaicans.
While working as a Resident Magistrate, she said, this was never far from her mind, and she tried to give as much encouragement to those who came before her as she could.
She also gave them respect, as not enough of this is accorded to the poor and the downtrodden. Giving back makes her feel complete.
