Contributed photos
LEFT: Retired Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica John Robinson, who vacationed on the island recently.
RIGHT: Dennis Lalor, OJ, and Mrs Lalor.

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

He is easily one of the more beloved Canadian high commissioners to have served in Jamaica where in recent memory. His representation and conduct of official duties were bereft of the air of officiousness that some seem to adopt while serving.

His warm and embracing style made of him a shining example of the very essence of the diplomatic creed, so much so that upon his retirement and departure from Jamaica, the outpouring of love and genuinely felt feeling of sadness that attended his departure had never been seen before in Kingston.

Indeed, the uberclass had become somewhat jaded by the ebb and flow associated with the members of the diplomatic corps. For most friendships did not survive beyond being posted here, as the somewhat nomadic existence occasioned by the foreign service did not lend itself to more than cursory or perfunctory kinds of associations.

There are, however, exceptions to every rule and in this instance, it took retired Canadian High Commissioner John Robinson, to lead the way.

A career diplomat with the Canadian foreign service, Robinson, first served in Jamaica, in the mid-1970s, and from his initial posting here, made fast friends with a number of Jamaicans. The friendships was maintained over the years while he took up various other postings back in Canada and elsewhere.

His return to Kingston, as his country's first citizen, was akin to a homecoming for the long-serving diplomat. Friends and acquaintances he had nurtured during his initial posting welcomed him back with the warmth befitting his new standing, as well as the signature hospitality that is uniquely the Jamaican experience!

Just in time

And so it is, that on this occasion of his return to the island for his annual winter holiday, friends have been rolling out the emotional red carpet in embrace of the esteemed Robinson who arrived in Kingston last week. And luvs, he could not have been received here at a better time!

Mah dears! Amid the many receptions, dinner parties and soirées being hosted in his honour, celebrated artist and socialite Susan Alexander threw open the gates to her very fine Drumblair residence on Sunday, and hosted a very snazzy to-do under the theme 'Champagne and Jazz in the Gardens'. It proved a social masterpiece, and then some!

Drumblair has been the epicentre of all things cultural, social and artistic. It gave birth to the contemporary socio-cultural and artistic identity which has been the driving force behind the successes in these areas, as well as the key to forging a national acceptance of our music, art, and cultural expressions.

Truly rich social

It was a resplendent-looking Alexander who welcomed the guest of honour, John Robinson, and a short-listed handful of his friends at her home for what proved a truly rich social and musical feast. And, my dears, how!

Dovecakes, we are talking Susan Alexander signature mode here - the very acme of style.

Providing the musical repast was the young musical quartet, known as the Wide Grin. And under the unseen baton of their musical director, Rosina Moder Ashbourne, they served up a most satisfying musical feast, at times quite pleasing, at others, arresting.

But, when the visually impaired Symone Thomas took over the microphone and started to belt out some of Jamaica's finest hits made popular by the late reggae superstar, Robert Nesta Marley, pumpkins, she blew the entire affair up another notch in the fabulous department.

Oh, my word! What a musical treat! The sheer musical artistry and talent made for a most captivating do. And with a number of Kingston's waiters to the rich and famous on hand doing the honours, the entire affair became that much more special as each flute of champagne was poured and served up with sustained assurance and conversational savvy.

Precious angels! We are talking one fabulously hot garden party here. But the absolutely best part of it all was that there were no speeches! Luvs, it simply was not that kind of a party. Here was a party for a friend, by a friend with only friends in attendance.

Oh honeys! It was that kind of an outing all right; an unapologetically fabulous class act.

Among those joining the host and the guest of honour were Glynne Manley; former deputy prime minister, David Coore and wife, Maria; Suffragan Bishop of Kingston Rev Robert Thompson and wife, Charmaine; head of the EU delegation, HE Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni and wife, Fiela; Russian Ambassador HE Viktor Zotin and wife Olga; Argentinean Ambassador HE Mario Pino; wife of the Canadian High Commissioner, Mrs Jo Ann Kingsley; Ambassador Madge Barrett; Maurice Facey and wife Valerie; Dennis Lalor and wife, Diane.

Also spotted were: Chris Bovell; Jennifer Lim; Robert MacMillan and his sibling Judy-Ann MacMillan; Joe Matalon and his fab wife, Bernadette McKinley Matalon; architect Earl Levy; Ruby Martin; social and cultural historian Ainsley Henriques and wife, Marjorie; Gloria Moodie; Captain. Michael Lyn and his wife, Thalia; Roy and Sylvia Collister; Peter and Fay Bangerter; Sue McManus; Patrick Lynch and his wife, Marguerite; Dr Dhiru Tanna and wife, Dr Laura Tanna; Russell and Carol Hadeed; concert pianist Orette Rhoden; Cindy Lightbourne; pianist and showman Douglasse Burrelace; antique dealer André Latore; and, visiting music professor Peter Bent.