Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
(From left) Birthday boy Danny Melville and wife Carol and his friend of 'donkey years', Jeff Cobham, at his 60th birthday party at Chukka Farms, in St. Ann, last Saturday night. - photo by Janet Silvera
WESTERN BUREAU:
Like 'Bond', 'James Bond', the painting that hung near the bandstand at Chukka Farm, St. Ann, last Saturday night, said 'Melville', 'Danny Melville, one of a kind'.
On his 60th 'earthday', the philanthropist, who has saved the lives of more dogs than you can imagine, was portrayed on a piece of canvas barefooted, wearing a tuxedo, standing taller than an exquisite looking Austin Martin sports car, representing everything meaningful.
The depiction by artist Art Perper represented Melville as a little of everything - a businessman built of intensity, with care and heart.
For three days, Melville celebrated the 60 enriching years of his life, teeing off with an intimate dinner on Friday night, a farm party with the talented band 'Chalice' on Saturday, climaxing with a luncheon on Sunday.
It was a weekend of rain and thunderstorm, but that did nothing to deter the spirits of the hundreds who came from near and far to celebrate with one of the most grounded Jamaicans of this era.
A consummate father, the chairman of the revolutionary Chukka Caribbean Adventure Tours was richly supported by his wife Carol, three sons, Marc, Zanda and Daniel 'Babes' and daughters-in-law Carina, Anna and Mandy.
Dancing and jumping, celebra-ting with Melville were: Jeff Cobham, Louis Grant, Laura Henzell, Sheilagh Jardim, Tammy McConnell, Dr. Paul Turner, Pam Lawson, Richard Lake, Donavon Perkins, Carla Marzouca and Ian Dear, Winston and Denise Dear, Robert and Beverly Russell, Philippa Epstein and Gary Scott, Joyce and Shelly Tweedy, Barbara Lulich, Dominique Peterkin, Thalia Lyn, Rachel Manley, Andy and Gaye Vernon, Manu Chandiramani, Yoni Epstein, Moyra Fitzroy, Carolle Guntley, John and Paola Byles, Eva Myers, Cyd Millar, Tony Rerrie, Billy Vernon, Maxine Walters, Hannah and David Wright, Tamara Baldanza, Jimmy Lakwani and Sharon Perper.
