Debbie's fab birthday do

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

In the heyday of the P.J. Patterson administration, many regarded the charming Debbie Hamilton-Crooks as the 'Iron Lady', since, as the prime minister's personal assistant, she was the keeper of the gates!

She was responsible for the PM's appointments and schedules, and it was always known that the very amiable Hamilton-Crooks, who was pleasant in demeanour, was a professional of the finest order. She did not suffer fools or political hacks lightly, especially those who suffered from a sense of their own importance and ideas of reference! So while highly respected and grudgingly admired, she was also feared and suffered the fulmination of many a frustrated would-be political powerhouse, who viewed her as the ultimate stumbling block in their quest for political glorification.

Hamilton-Crooks, however, was and remains a stickler for the observances of the protocol that govern social and political interaction, whether at the personal or official level. It's a quality that has not only distinguished her from the hordes and many pretenders, but has made her one of the most admired personalities of the Patterson administration.

So distinguished was her service, that when Patterson demitted office, he opted to retain her services as his personal assistant, a move many said deprived the country of a skilled public servant, well versed in the art of diplomacy and protocol. Alas, with Patterson's active regional and international schedule being one that would require such skills, it was understandable why he would continue with her in his post-political endeavours!

Intense planning

Anyway my dears, on Friday, September 9, the charmingly fab Hamilton-Crooks celebrated her birthday and, as is her custom, she opted not to celebrate. Hers has been the role of planner-in-chief for many a private and official functions, relegating her own birthdays, anniversaries and other milestones to footnotes. Well, that was the understood standing order and would have been the usual modus, excepting for the fact that her long-time friend, the very charmingly fab Dian Watson, would have none of it!

So Watson, an art dealer and restaurateur, set about upsetting the apple cart by planning an evening with family and friends to celebrate Hamilton-Crooks' birthday, knowing fully well such an act could earn her the ire of the birthday girl, should the event become known to her!

Well, to ensure smooth sailing and the appearance of the birthday girl, the would-be hostess enlisted the assistance of Len Crooks, devoted husband of the birthday girl and, with his blessings, all was in place for the celebration. Well, my darlings, those who know Hamilton-Crooks well say it's not that she would object to a birthday party, but, being a Virgo and a perfectionist, her objections would be because not only should such an event be done properly, it should be fun. And so when she heard that Watson would be the one planning such an event, knowing her planning skills, Hamilton-Crooks was quite at ease.

Well, my dears, the celebration was held at Watson's residence, smack in the heart of New Kingston, and doves, it rained for most of the afternoon and early evening, but the weather played nary a role in the planned event!

Dubbed 'Debbie Hamilton-Crooks Birthday Lyme', the event was just that - one fabulous lyme and nothing but, as friends and relatives braved the downpour to attend and they, in turn, were treated to an evening resplendent in haute style. It was a culinary treat and a simply fabulous musical odyssey that transported guests to a time and place where the love of family and respect for friends and neighbours were the norm, not an oddity. It made for a beautiful outing!

Dears, dinner was a traditional Jamaica fare of the finest order, dessert, a dieter's nightmare and then some, as apart from the simply fab birthday cake, there was bread pudding, sweet potato pudding, cheesecake, tarts and custard.

Great music from yesteryear

My dears, P.J. Patterson took turns as disc jockey, spinning some fab tunes of yesteryear that saw many taking to the dance floor and dropping some 'wicked' legs. But before the former PM took the musical controls, the very talented former lead singer of the group Home T Four, Orville 'Bagga' Case, now with the group Bagga Ditto, was at his cabaret best. He not only serenaded, but belted out some traditional stanza and faves that had guests in a mellow musical mood and wanting more.

Enter Patterson, and voila! The musical chimes kicked in and it was party time. No, not your jump-up and get-on-bad kind of a party as it was definitely not that kind of a crowd, and certainly not that kind of music. It was just the good stuff of yesteryear - just what the musical doctor had prescribed - and, pumpkins, it made for a beautiful musical journey!

It was one downright charming birthday celebration and a fitting toast to a lady of style panache!

Among those out were the doting parents of the birthday girl, Ken and Gwen Hamilton; former Governor General Sir Kenneth and Lady Hall; former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson; Ambassador Burchell Whiteman and Aloun Assamba; Justice Horace Marsh; Ambassador Maxine Roberts and her sibling Valerie Roberts; Dr Paul Brown; businessman and horse-racing personality the esteemed Howard Hamilton; the charming Doreen Frankson; Earle Samuels; media and theatre doyenne Fae Ellington; Tony and Yvonne Ray; Elaine Melbourne; the eminent Shirley Tyndall; the celebrated Grub Cooper and wife Joy.

We also spotted famed musician Frankie Campbell; Gaye Mitchell; Howard Cooper and wife Karin; Terry Leslie; Ertis Blake; Lorna Greene; Audley and Amoi Raymore; the fabulous Dr Renée Rattray; Courtney and Pauline Campbell; Hansel and Hyacinth Beckford; Alston Stewart; attorney-at-law, the stunning Clare Miller; Trevor and Linda Lawrence; Dr Allyson Leacock; Marvin and Kerith Pearson; Stacey Hamilton; Bright Watson and the lovely Leah Singh; Abledon Foote; Dustin Sinclair, and others.