Tue | Sep 23, 2025

Alice in Wonderland goes to Round Hill

Published:Sunday | February 27, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Pause
Chairman of Rose Hall Developments, Michele Rollins (left), is in a lively discussion with Melody Bemberton (centre) and Helga Wagner during the 45th annual staging of the Sugar Cane Ball at Round Hill Hotel in Hanover on February 19.
Spanish Ambassador Celsa Nuno (left) collects a raffle ticket from Rochelle Smith, wedding coordinator, at Round Hill Hotel. The ambassador's husband, Alex Crowther, prepares to purchase his raffle ticket.
Neadene Tufton (left) hangs out with Eroleen Anderson-Powell at the Sugar Cane Ball.
Chairman of the Airports Authority of Jamaica, Mark Hart, lymes with Paula Kerr-Jarrett (centre) and Nazee Klotz (right), a shareholder at Round Hill Hotel in Hanover.
This trio (from left) Manuela Goren, playing the 'evil Queen of Hearts'; her husband James, playing Johnnie Depp's role from the recent 'Alice' movie, and Hope Marks, who plays the character 'Twiddle Dee'.- photos by Noel Thompson
British boxing bigwigs Chris Eubank (left) and Lennox Lewis (centre) chill out with fellow Brit and friend Phil Powell.
1
2
3
4
5
6

The characters of the all-time favourite fairy tale Alice in Wonderland played out prominently as scores of people donned theme costumes to impersonate various characters in the story.

It was the 45th staging of the Hanover Charities Sugar Cane Ball, held under the stars at the elegant Round Hill Hotel in the parish on Saturday, February 19. And it was a night when some of the very wealthy turned out to give away loads of cash to various charities in Hanover.

Last year, the event raised over US$196,000, but with this year seeing the largest turnout ever, managing director of Round Hill, Josef Forstmayr, said the committee was hoping to raise well over US $200,000.

new record

"We've broken the record. Tonight is the biggest night. Over 360 participants are in attendance, which is unheard of," Forstmayr told the audience.

The seaside terrace at Round Hill Hotel was transformed into the rabbit hole, depicting the ditch in which Alice fell and time stood still. Mushrooms, teacups, teapots, the Cheshire Cat, Twiddle Dee, Twiddle Dum, the March Hare, Queen of Hearts, kings, the duchess, cupcakes, pom-poms and twigs all came alive, as if one was watching the movie.

"Alice's story is all about the good prevailing, which is why I support the Sugar Cane Ball 100 per cent," said Hope Marks, co-chairman of the annual event.

Among the guests in attendance were United States ambassador to Jamaica, Pamela Bridgewater, and her husband, the Reverend Russell Awkard; United States ambassador to Barbados, Mary Ourisman; Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda; Spanish Ambassador Celsa Nuño; government ministers Ed Bartlett and Dr Christopher Tufton; tycoon Chris Blackwell; actor Michael Weatherly; Ralph Lauren and his wife, Ricky; his son David and fiancée Lauren Bush - the niece of former US President, George Bush, to name a few.

The Sugar Cane Ball is the annual fund-raising event for Hanover Charities, one of the largest charitable organisations in Jamaica.

"Funds raised at the events make an enormous difference to the needy in our parish," Hanover Charities said in a statement. Projects that have benefited include the provision of scholarships and the purchasing of reading and health-care material.