Sun | May 24, 2026

Celebrating 50 with friends

Published:Sunday | June 20, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Pause
The man of the moment Winston Adams, president of the University College of the Caribbean, gets more birthday greetings from Marsha Gayle Jarrett.
Dr Velma Brown-Hamilton (left), legal adviser to the University College of the Caribbean, jokes with Geraldine Adams.
Winston Adams, wife Geraldine (second right) and daughters Shannon (left) and Trishany cut the birthday cake.- photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Geraldine Adams (left) takes a turn with Chantelle Dallas on the dance floor. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Chemeika Harris (left) and Shirley Holness are jamming to the music of Phoenix Disco.
Shirley Holness (left), Adams' mother, has a great time with Meva Thelwell (centre) and Chemeika Harris.
Winston Adams (right) simply had to take a picture with his rowdy schoolmates from Vere Technical's Class of '78. They came out in full support for his 50th birthday soiree, held at Norbrook Way, Norbrook on Saturday, June 12.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

What better way to celebrate a landmark than with family and friends?

Winston Adams, founder and president of University College of the Caribbean, chose to do it that way as he celebrated five decades on the planet on Saturday, June 12, with a dinner party in Norbrook.

Nobody was supposed to call it the 50th birthday, though. The term was 'the 25th of the 25th' and most guests stuck to that. The jovial nature of the man rubbed off on everyone and a good time was inevitable. MC Heather Grant added to the vibe by putting Adams in one hilarious situation after another, including quizzes about the little things of his life, including his shoe size. That there were multiple answers to the questions only aided the merriment.

A slide show captured all areas of Adams' life, from lounging at home to 'dropping foot' at parties. Video tributes that were recorded during the cocktail hour were played during dinner, the various speakers giving their anecdotes about Adams, including the revelation that his hall name at UWI was Joe Grind. Mercifully, no explanation was forthcoming. Adams' sister, Veronica Walker,

gave the most heartfelt toast after dinner, as she told (and sang to) her "favourite brother" that she would never trade him for silver or gold. Others called him a visionary and a man who epitomised success; daughter Shannon called him an inspiration.

In his reply, Adams said that everyone was being much too kind, but he was in no hurry to correct them. He said that whatever advantages he may have, he owed them to his family. Dwight Pinkney and the DP Band, who had kept guests rocking all night, then played Simply The Best as a special tribute. It was then time for Phoenix Disco to really get everybody up and dancing under the stars.

Guests out included Pastor Lorenzo King, Hyacinth Bennett, Leighton McKnight, Dimario McDowell, Dr Blossom O'Meally Nelson, Percival Shaw, Donald Roberts, Winston Clarke, Danny Smith and Terry Stokes.