COME THURSDAY, Jamaica will have a new governor general and first lady. They are Dr Patrick Allen and his wife Patricia.

This newspaper has written extensively about the couple since the announcement of their appointment was made. But, aside from him being a pastor and former president of the West Indies Union of Seventh-day Adventists, Dr Allen has a very interesting and fun-loving side (his wife attests to that). We went digging and found a list 10 of things many of you may not know about him.

1. Favourite foods

Originally, yam rice and peas and chicken, breadfruit, bammy, curried goat, fish. However, he recently became a vegetarian. (His wife makes a delicious curried chick pea meal).

2. Sports

Athletics, badminton, swimming and volleyball. He is an avid athletics fan who keeps clippings of all Jamaican athletic champions.

3. Boyhood nicknames

Sunshine and Brutus

4. Favourite music

Jazz. He learned to sol-fa musical syllables at age 11.

5. Boyhood activity

He was a masterguide (Adventist uniformed group).

6. Favourite childhood hobbies

Reading library books, Children's Own, the newspaper and book reviews.

7. School he attended

Fruitful Vale All-Age in Portland. He walked on river stones to go to school in the valley.

8. Number of siblings

Four

9. His phobia

Fear of the media and of becoming blind.

10. Activity he enjoys

Going to the beach.