'People, places, cricket ...' - I am going to miss Jamaica

Nashauna Drummond, Lifestyle Coordinator

Graham Glover arrived in Jamaica for the first time in 1998. But long before he got here, he was familiarising himself with the food and getting more than an ear full of stories about Jamaica.

"I'd heard a lot about it from friends I had in the Jamaican diaspora in London. The cricket team I played for in London (Dennison CC) had three Jamaicans who were never short of great stories about home. They also introduced me to some great Jamaican food available in South London."

Now, after a second posting in the island, the former deputy British high comissioner is saying goodbye to what has become his second home.

"My first posting in Jamaica was from 1998 to 2001. I opened the office of the Department for International Development which had been created as a UK government ministry less than a year earlier by then new British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Saying goodbye this time is more difficult. Saying goodbye for a second time is very hard."

It's hard for Glover because he has fallen in love with many things about the island. "The people, places and cricket. Young kids graduating from Operation Restoration in Trench Town and showing such confidence and talent in front of a large audience. Holidays in Treasure Beach, and watching the Windies play at Sabina. They won every game I attended during both my stays here!"

Although Glover has been posted in China, Poland, Thailand and Libya, Jamaica stands out. "They are all different, all very enjoyable in their own way. But Jamaica is the only one I've ever wanted to be posted to again."

Along with the memories they created here, Glover and his wife, Jo, will also be taking some more tangible parts of Jamaica back to the UK with them.

"The Jamaican pets that my wife and I adopted when here. Two 'Jamaica terriers', aka mongrel street dogs (Milly and Poppy), and two JSPCA rescue cats (Ginny and Phoebe). All now back in the UK and getting ready for their first British winter!"

Glover was scheduled to get back to the UK last Thursday.

"I'm heading back to work at our Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the FCO) in London for the next three years. After that, I'll be looking for another overseas posting."

He leaves having confirmed for himself that Jamaicans are fun-loving and the friendliest people in the Caribbean. And until his next visit to the island, if even just for vacation, he will most miss, "My friends and authentic jerk pork and sausage from Grant's Jerk Hut in Linstead!"

nashauna.drummond@gleanerjm.com

• Adieu!

Saying goodbye is never an easy thing but, like taxes,
it's often unavoidable. Such was the occasion of the gathering at the
British High Commission recently. It was to bid adieu to Deputy British
High Commissioner Graham Glover and, in the same breath, welcome new DHC
Julia Sutherland and her husband, Duncan, to the
island.

Glover's first posting in the island about 12 years ago
was so good, he came back for another round. Now at the end of his
second posting, he had developed quite a number of real friendships. But
as highlighted by British High Commissioner Howard Drake, it's one of
the sad things about diplomatic life, you always have to say
goodbye.

The commissioner highlighted what a great
deputy Glover has been and outside of his formal duties, someone he
could discuss cricket and football with.

Potential
tears subsided with Glover's promise, "I'll be back". But nothing can
completely change the reason for the gathering. In a short address, he
notes, "Jamaica gets to you, you leave a bit of yourself on this island
when you serve. I have served twice, so I leave a big chunk of me
here."

The silver lining of the occasion was welcoming
Julia Sutherland. Coming from her last posting in Singapore, she learnt
of her new posting in January and it has been a very exciting
wait.

The night concluded with it not being a goodbye,
but a see-you-soon between friends.

- Nashauna
Drummond