Party in the hills

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

It's definitely the season of the beautiful people, and naturally, with beautiful people come beautiful parties. One such party was hosted by European Union diplomat, Alex Dropinski and his wife, Dr Saphire Longmore, at their Stony Hill residence on July 24.

The event celebrated her July 2 birthday; her father, Chapman Longmore Sr's, on July 30; along with family friend, Jonathan Wymms-Gorman, on the day of the party. The hills of St Andrew came alive, and the place to be, and be seen, was definitely The Knole, in salubrious Stony Hill, where the beautiful people came out to join in the festivities. And when it was all over, bar the dancing, there was nary a one in attendance who could not have said this was one really fabulous party!

Now The Knole is the ancestral home of the Hanna family, and with its commanding and panoramic view of the city and the outlying parishes of St Thomas and St Catherine, you know we are talking nothing short of spectacular here. Hosted by poolside, the affair was relaxed in nature and celebratory in context as guests were in no doubt as to the reason they were all out. The mantra for the evening was 'we are here to party'. And led by the hosts and birthday celebrants, and supported by some contemporary and oldies hits, between sips of premium libations, a cosmopolitan culinary fare, expressions of good wishes and the cutting of the birthday cake, guests simply danced up a tropical storm.

Among those out sharing in the festivities, were: son of Chapman Longmore Sr and sibling of the host and birthday celebrant, Dr Chapman Longmore, and the lovely Shareen Welds and their infant son, Talon; Charles Hanna; High Court judge Glen Brown; Kenny Benjamin and his companion, the lovely Aloima Suarez; Robert MacMillan and the lovely Rachel Gore; Professor Dr Fred Hickling and wife Dr Hilary Hickling; Steve and Betty Ashley; attorney Harold Brady; Ron Brown and wife Valerie Juggan-Brown; the lovely Scarlett Gillings; Al Niazi; Patrick and Peta-Gaye Wong; Capt Rupert Bent; the elegant Yvonne Fredricks; Rajiv Bakshi and companion Dorothea Gordon-Smith and daughters Taquise and Luciana Gordon-Smith; Egbert and Murtle Williams; Commander George Overton; Robbie and Odette Epstein; internationally celebrated Californian-based Jamaican artist Bernard Hoyes; artist Andy Jefferson; Dr Vincent and Dr Bridgette Okpiavbe; Dr Janice Clarke; Dr Kraig Radlien; Dr Peta-Gaye Reynolds; Dr Clayton Sewell; Dr Kai Morgan; a very pregnant Saffrey Brown; Ricardo and Azra Mallett; party animal Robert Haughton; the gorgeous Shawna Newman; Marlon Honnigan; Anne Harris, 'English Annie' to her friends, just back from a sojourn Down Under; plus a number of others.

Birthday wishes

And, speaking of birthdays, happy belated birthday wishes to: Joan Stone, and the lovely Simone Haynes-Khouri, who celebrated their birthday on August 6. Belated greetings also to Joan's husband, the affable Cliff Stone, Jamaica's ambassador designate to Venezuela, who celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, August 3, and to Digicel's Harry Smith, who also celebrated on the third. General manager of The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Eldon Bremner and former model Nadine Willis both celebrated on August 5.

And speaking of beautiful people, happy wedding anniversary to one of the north coast's most fabulous couples, Kevin and Cecile Levee, who celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, August 4. Americans Pepe and Margaret Olmos have spent the last 37 years of their life together, and recently, the north coast habitués celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary at their favourite resort, Hedonism III, where they were joined by close friends to toast the occasion.

And speaking of Hedonism III, the countdown has begun to the rebranding of the resort, as, after closing for refurbishing, the resort will reopen its doors as the newest brand in the SuperClubs international chain under the name SuperFun Beach Resort and Spa.

Well, while others are queuing to welcome the new hotel, there are those across the globe who are crying their eyes out because of the impending closure of the adult resort with its racy, in-your-face entertainment that made loyal converts of thousands of vacationers across the globe.