Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Suzanne Issa (left) with Charles Hanna and Jackie Issa at Hanna's birthday party in Stony Hill, St Andrew.

On Friday, January 23, 1998, at a reception at the then Crown Plaza Hotel in Manor Park, at the launch of the commemorative book, Edward Rasheed Hanna - The Man and His Times, the esteemed Robert MacMillan, in his dedication, spoke of his childhood and the fond memories it held of his many visits to the castle on the hill overlooking Kingston, and of the 'king' of the castle and his beloved family.

The 'king' was the late Edward Rasheed Hanna and the castle was the Hannas family home, The Knole, located in Stony Hill in upper St Andrew.

Place in history

My dears, the Hannas and their sense of place in Jamaica's history are long documented. Charles Hanna was born in Kingston, the son of Edward and Olga Hanna; Edward being the son of an immigrant family from Lebanon who settled in Jamaica in the mid-1800s.

Through industry, commitment and hard work, Hanna went on to become one of the island's wealthiest businessmen. With a portfolio that included dry goods, industry and real estate, the Hanna name became a household one.

At the time of his death in 1978, the mantle of carrying on the family business was passed to his son and heir Charles. A graduate of the London College of Fashion, he took over the reins of the family empire and guided it through the social and economic turbulence of the late '70s and very early '80s, before divesting himself of some aspects of the business to stick to the core, merchandising.

Not unlike his father, Charles Hanna is a shy, almost retiring person whose passion includes art collecting, the theatre and his close coterie of friends, all known to each other since childhood and loyal beyond fault.

Well, last Sunday, he marked his 60th birthday and to celebrate the occasion, he hosted a divine lunch at The Knole that will long be remembered for its elegance, charm and its unabashed olde worlde sophistication.

understated luxury

My dears, MacMillan's recollection of the home being a castle was no stretch of the imagination or childhood projection. My daahlings, we are talking utter and unabashed, but yet understated luxury here. From the very plush handcrafted Persian rugs, Middle-Eastern wools, tapestry, religious iconography, walls draped with an enviable priceless art collection and accent antique pieces, we are talking one fine home.

Now dears, lunch was a charmer, as it really was a rather exclusive affair, restricted to immediate friends and family, and began with pre-luncheon cocktails that saw arriving guests being welcomed by the birthday boy himself. They were then treated to a champagne cocktail in the drawing room. In the grand dining room (seating 20), the five-course affair was a study and/or lesson in grand dining and fabulous style.

The birthday cake topped the do as the 'belle of the ball', with Pat Gooden serenading the host with her rendition of La Vie en Rose, the song made famous by the eternal Edith Piaff, and saw the birthday boy joining in, to make for a fab duet; his French impeccable! And my dears, the birthday cake proved, a dieter's worst nightmare!

There were toasts to the birthday boy, but none was as memorable as his very own in which he outlined six wishes (one for each decade).

Hand-picked guests

Among the shortlist of critically hand-picked guests were his sister, the charmingly lovely Mary Hanna; former US Embassy charge d'affaires Lacy Wright; long-time Hanna family friend Robert MacMillan; glamour sisters Jackie and Suzanne Issa, their sister-in-law, the lovely and elegant Oriente Issa; Chris Bovell and his charmingly elegant wife Michelle; Earl Levy and his wife, the gracious Beverly Junor-Levy and their daughter, the lovely Susan Louis; Anthony and Jeanne Watson and their son James; Norman Rae; and Roger and Sheila Butler.

Earl Levy (left) and Lacy Wright enjoy each other's company at the party. - Contributed photos

From left, Suzanne Issa, Jeane Watson and Michelle Issa.

Beverly Junor-Levy (right) with daughter, Susan Louis.