Debs' big 50

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

Many regard her as the Dragon Lady of the Patterson administration. This is because she did not suffer fools gladly, nor did she permit her boss, the prime minister of Jamaica and leader of the People's National Party, to suffer them either!

And in this respect, she would so manage his schedule that he too would not have to suffer them or have them consume the nation's time.

Hers was a coveted post. It was one that demanded the skills of the consummate diplomat, gifted with the skills of patience, diplomacy, and an understanding of the politics of the day; a greater understanding of the machinations of government and the political machinery, and the necessity to balance these two complimentary institutions, that at times, would seek primacy!

Her role is one that she was in full command of the complexities involved, that even her most ardent critics eventually became fawning admirers once they understood it.

And with a personal style that still speaks to regal sophistication, the lady in question, Debra Hamilton-Crooks, commanded a sense of distinction and authority that belies her actual age.

So when word first leaked that the fabulously elegant Virgoan, would be celebrating her 50th birthday on September 8, there were many who thought her to be fudging the numbers. Based on her distinguished performance over the years, many thought her much older than that.

Over the years, Hamilton-Crooks has demonstrated a set of managerial skills,with the scholarly charm and discipline akin to that of the village school principal - that set her above and beyond her age.

Anyway my dears, on the occasion of her special day, the elegantly charming woman and her husband, Len Crooks hosted what can only be truly described as a gala of a garden party. And dears, when it was all over, there was no escaping the glowing reviews from both the professional scribes and social arbiters. It was all that, and then some!

To begin with, there was hardly a soul who knew her who thought that on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee, she and her husband would host anything but a smasheroni of the most fabulous order!

With 'Debs' at the helm of planning events for visiting heads of state and state functions; and her husband a mechanical engineer with a love for music and who dabbles in producing musical events for the haute music lover, nobody expected anything but 'command-performance' for this milestone!

And as was expected, so it was, and resplendently so!

Dears, the location was The Ham Farm and Stables in St Catherine. And for the invitees now jaded by the predictability of the social comings and goings-on, the break from the more beaten paths of Kingston provided a fabulous outing and a beautiful respite.

Luvs, with the weather threatening to run afoul of the party planners all day, there were those who dreaded a drenching. For many, however, it was clearly a case of rain or shine - there would be no missing out on enjoying what was clearly expected to be a full-fledged birthday soirée.

Move over Ascot, this, my dears, was a garden party of the finest order and nothing but. We are talking the lawns of the farmhouse beautifully decked out with a giant white marquee, a bar and food stations, along with a number of smaller white marquees ringing a beautifully laid out dance floor, ringed by Bistro tables. Everywhere one looked, one saw the fashionable fashionistas; the chic; the quoted and oft misquoted; glamourzons and glam-queens; and, of course, the haute Bella - donnas and gentlemen of bespoke style!

Dears, simply put, we are talking one haute regal do here. The birthday girl, looked fashionably fierce in flowing summery whites, her beau himself a picture of summery chic, was clearly the fashion and style grandee.

Their guests, however, were no fashion slouches either. They were as fabulous as fabulous gets - the women were styled for an afternoon garden party, and flawlessly so, their husbands, consorts or escorts, equally naff!

No fuddy-duddy stuffiness

And then
there was the ease of the occasion. No fuddy-duddy stuffiness here, as
it simply was not that kind of a party! Luvs, we are talking continental
fabulousness here, and then some. Guests simply basked in the reflected
glory of each other's society; imbibed the devilishly fab concoction
dubbed the Punch de Crème; other premium libations; and the all-time
belle of all fab happenings - champagne!

Dears, it was
like that a celebration of the fabulous order and done in such
unquestionable style and effortless grace, it was easily the party of
the summer and definitely the Virgo do of the
season!

Among those out were: parents of the birthday
girl, Ken and Gwendolyn Hamilton;
her husband's mother, Rebecca Smith, her sister
Stacey; former Prime Minister P.J
Patterson, his son Richard Patterson;
former Govenor General Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady
Rheima Hall; Finance Minister Dr Peter
Phillips and wife, Sandra. Also out were:
Technology and Mining Minister Phillip Paulwell;
Custos of St Ann Radcliffe Walters and his wife
Norma; ambassadors Eleanor Felix
and Maxine Roberts and sister, the charming
Valerie; Justice Horace Marsh and
his wife Mabel; United States Ambassador
Pamela Bridgewater; South African Ambassador
Mathu Joyini; Dr Vin Miller and
his wife Beverly; the dapper Howard
Hamilton and wife Marlene, and
Lance and Barbara Johnson. Also
there were the eminent Doreen Frankson;
Michael and Andrea Vaccianie;
Alston Stewart; Norma Clarke;
Raymond Reece and wife Mary-Helen;
the fab Dianne Watson; Patrick
Bailey; Janet Panton;
Elon and Marilyn Beckford;
Lloyd and Sandy Wiggan;
Bill Clarke; the fashionable siblings Sharon
Wolfe and Greta Bogues;
Milverton and Mignonette Reynolds;
Herbie Miller and the charming Yvonne
McNaughton; Betty Ashley; the charmingly
lovely Dawn Young; the elegant Sonia
Rickards; the charming Pinky Bowers;
Mirven Tait and daughter,
Lorraine; Gary Barrow and his
stunning wife Bernadette; Dr Lorna
Simmonds and sibling, the fab Daphne. Also
joining the celebration were: the fabulous Clare
Miller; the lovely Renée Rattray;
Robert Stephenson; Howard and
Karin Cooper; the lovely Scarlett
Gillings; Audrey Hinchcliffe; Lisa
Lewis; Robert McCook; Dr Heather
White; Lloyd and Jennifer
Samuda; the fab Louise Wilson;
Keith Brathwaite and Lorna Green;
Norman Jackson and his charming wife
Carol, in from Ocho Rios; Fay
Thomas, in from Montego Bay; the celebrated publisher
Karl Rodney and his fabulous wife
Faye, both in from New York; as were Dr
Angella Todd; Myrna Merchant;
John and Bridgite Chin, in from
Florida; the lovely Fae Ellington, who was the
afternoon's compère, and Ayton Taylor and wife
Lilieth from Chicago.

But what a
fabulous way to mark one's very special
birthday!  Dears, simply put,
marvellous!

Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer