New German ambassador hosts fab reception

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

There is a new German ambassador in town. With his very charming wife, there is a breath of fresh air blowing on the diplomatic and social scenes as His Excellency Ambassador Josef Beck and wife Gudrun, in the three months since their arrival in Jamaica, have opted not to retreat behind the diplomatic wall and community. But they have rather opted to familiarise themselves with Jamaica and Jamaicans in an effort to get to know the country and its people!

It is an approach that has won the ambassador and his wife many a friends and plaudits, as social observers commend the approach as it is considered the most effective manner to get to know the people and to get more than a cursory understanding of the social and cultural forces at work.

A former foreign service officer posted with the German foreign affairs ministry, in Berlin, before taking up his assignment here in Kingston, Ambassador Beck, arrived in Jamaica in July.

Since his arrival and presentation of his credentials, Ambassador and Mrs Gudrun Beck have been spotted on the social scenes and at a number of cultural events; their presence at these events a clear signal that they would not be idle bystanders but active supporters of the arts and cultural events.

It was no surprise that on Monday, October 3, on the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the Day of German Unity, the reception hosted by the ambassador and his wife was not your ordinary celebration of the Day of German National Unity. It was a fabulous class act, and then some, hosted atop The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, in New Kingston, at its Top Of the World rooftop venue, the reception made for a case study as to just how fabulous a diplomatic reception can be!

Dears, the fabulous venue with its open skies and 360-degree view of Kingston and Port Royal, the view of the cascading hills surrounding the city and the wide expanse of the Caribbean Sea, ridging the city, we are talking a picture-perfect setting. It was enhanced by the massive German flag that was the backdrop to the platform and there was no escaping the sense of grand import that attended the occasion!

And then there was the tastefully done decor that made for the overall atmosphere of ease and elegance. Added to this embracingly charming atmosphere, was the VIP reception that saw Ambassador Beck and wife Gudrun, along with his deputy, Michael Kroener, and wife Iris, at the head of the reception line, welcoming guests as they arrived for the event!

There was a battery of well-dressed staff on hand offering drinks and hors d'oeuvres; plus a gathering of the country's leading social and diplomatic elite, out celebrating of the occasion and huns, y'all know we are talking a simple outing here and nothing but!!

Entertainment

And my dears, just when y'all were thinking this was as fab as it gets, it got better, and then some, as guests were entertained by Joel Moder-Ashbourne on piano with a selection of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart, along with a number of his own compositions before the commencement of the brief period of formalities. And dears, it started with German precision as on cue, a perfectly dressed ensemble from the University Singers entered the stage and delivered the Jamaican national anthem, in classical mode, that it had guests heads bobbing in appreciation.

And as if to crown an already beautiful opening, they then segued into the German national anthem, in 'Hock Duetch', nonetheless! And luvs, fabulous so, they had the German nationals showing their approval in applause!

And the musical cultural offering did not stop there either as following Ambassador Beck's response on behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica by Senator Marlene Malahoo Forte of the foreign affairs ministry, the audience was treated to another musical odyssey by Italian guitarist Samuele Vivian, accompanied by Ouida Lewis on percussions, followed by Rosina Moder-Asbourne on flute and Rafiq Williams on violin.

And then there was the fare - simply fab, my dears, and then some!

But in-between the sips and spills, the cry of the evening was if only some in the audience could curb their enthusiasm for innate chatter during the official speeches and presentations, then this would have been the perfect outing! Alas, there are those who displayed their coarse boorishness by chattering the night away, and especially during the host's speech!

Among those spotted were former Governor General Sir Kenneth and Lady Hall; Glynne Manley and her daughter, the charmingly lovely Janine Bunting; Opposition Senator K.D. Knight; Custos of St Andrew Marigold Harding; Archbishop of Kingston Charles Dufour; Ambassador Madge Barrett and husband Tunty; Ambassador Eleanor Felix; Ambassador Evadney Coy; Ambassador Patricia Durrant; Chris and Michelle Bovell; Robert MacMillan; Earl Levy and wife, the elegant Beverley Junor Levy; Andrew and Susan Bloomfield; Oliver Jones; Anthony and Jeanne Watson; the affable Christopher Roberts and his charming wife, Jill.

We also saw the elegant Susan Alexander; Ronald and Barbara Sasso Robert and Barbara Henriques; Capt Michael Lyn and his wife, entrepreneur Thalia Lyn; Richard and Diana Stewart; J. Lester Spaulding and wife Dr L.W. Koengeter; Jennifer Lim; Peter and Faye Bangerter; Charley Johnston and wife Lisa McGregor Johnston; Paul and Oriente Issa; hotelier Josef Forstmayr; head of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, attorney Milton Samuda; head of Jamaicans for Justice, Dr Carolyn Gomes, and husband Dr Richard Gomes; Vivian Crawford; Gilou Bauer; Uwe Kumst; the lovely Betty Barrett-Thompson; the stunning Sophia Max Brown; the charming Judith Wedderburn; the elegant Sonia Rickards; the fabulous Jackie Nielsen; Rosina Moder-Ashbourne; the charming Andrea Bickhoff Benjamin; Conrad von Sydow.

While from the diplomatic community those spotted included head of the EU Mission, Ambassador Marco, and Fiela Mazzocchi Alemanni; US Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater; British High Commissioner Richard Drake and wife Gillian; Russian Ambassador Viktor Zotin; French Ambassador Marc-Olivier Gendry; Belgian Ambassador Frederick Meurice; Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Yamaguchi and his wife, Yoko; Indian High Commissioner Mohinder Grover; Canadian High Commissioner Stephen Hallihan and wife Kathy; Nigerian High Commissioner Peter Oyedele; Senegalese Ambassador Dr Nafissayou Diagne; Ambassador Jose Ayres of the Dominican Republic; deputy head of mission, French Embassy, Bruno Jounnenn; the lovely Anna Chin; in from Montego Bay; and the cultural attaché from the German Embassy, who was the evening's compère, Maria Carta.