British high commissioner reassigned, Millionaires' Row, birthday greetings

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Luvs, word is British High Commissioner Howard Drake will be leaving the island soon. Along with his very charming wife Gill, they have endeared themselves to those with whom they have interacted. They are slated to be departing our shores early to mid-June to take up a new and prestigious assignment elsewhere.

Dears, the news has come as a shock to many. As diplomatic postings go, this was a relatively brief tenure, but as news of the new appointment has been making the rounds, the move is seen as a welcome endorsement of the diplomatic skills and acumen of High Commissioner Drake. And while they will be missed, the news is being lauded.

Luvs, more anon.

NDTC promises Fabulous Easter programme

And as the Easter season fast approaches, the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) is currently rehearsing for its annual Easter Sunday morning Movement of Dance and Music. Artistic Director Barry Moncrieffe is promising one fabulous programme.

And speaking of Easter, dears, 'Millionaires' Row' new Discovery Bay - that enclave of fabulous villas owned by the uber rich - is now totally booked for the Easter holidays. But word is there is a case of real estate rivalry brewing as some want the unofficial name changed to Multi-Millionaire's Row as the neighbouring community known as Bengal Estate, is now itself taking on all the trappings of Millionaires' Row, and they want a distinction between the two!

Definitely, more anon here!

Birthday Greetings

My dears, as the age of Pisces comes to a close, we extend birthday wishes to: Justice Nicole Simmons; the lovely Elisabeth Levy; the charming Deborah Burke-Green Stewart; Hensley Cameron, in Montego Bay; the lovely Caroline Tomlinson-Pemberton, formerly of Morant Bay, St Thomas, now residing in North Carolina; and Harriet Huber, wife of former German Ambassador Dr Christian Hausman, now in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany; who all celebrate their birthday, today!

March 16

Celebrating tomorrow, the 16th, will be: Leon Mitchell; the charming Maureen Webber; the lovely Emelia Ellis; Bacari Bascombe, north coast habitué of Bridgetown, Barbados; the happening Pauline Thomas, formerly of Kingston, now in Springfield, Massachusetts; the charmingly fab Andrea Waite, formerly of the Jamaica Observer, now residing in Boston, Massachusetts. Also the fab Philiscia Wisdom, formerly of Nationwide FM, now in Queens, New York; the stunning Joan Davidson, formerly of Stony Hill, now in New York; the lovely Kerrian Smith, in Los Angeles, California; and the fab Pauline Haughton, formerly of Morant Bay, St Thomas, now in Brussels, Belgium.

MArch 17

On Sunday, the 17th, among the celebrants will be: legendary Jamaican athlete and Olympian Ray Stewart; the fabulous Geri Blackburn, in Phoenix, Arizona; and Chicago native, philanthropist and patron of the arts, Joe English, now in the Dominican Republic.

Come Monday, the 18th, the birthday celebrations continue, and will see: the esteemed Dr Greg Williams; celebrated actress and businesswoman Karen Harriott; the celebrated Totlyn Oliver-Banks; NCB's Lanville Henry; IRIE FM's Courtney Wallace, in Ocho Rios; the lovely Sanya Masters, also in Ocho Rios; Negril habituée Veronica Webb of Nashville, Tennessee; north coast habituée Tracy Thomas, of New Orleans, Louisiana; Andrew Chue-Francis, in South Orange, New Jersey.

There will be no letting up come next Tuesday, the 19th, as Member of Parliament Dr Dayton Campbell; the affable Geoffery Messado; the heir to the throne of the Guardsman Group of Companies, Nicholas Benjamin; the fabulous Rebecca Tulloch; Jason Barrow; the charmingly fab educator Lorraine Wickham-Ellis; the lovely Clair 'Spike' McHayle, in Mandeville; the fabulous Acqunenatta Jackson-Harris, of Roanoke, Virginia; the lovely Sandra Loatham, in Washington, DC: the lovely Rosemarie Lee-Dawkins, now residing in New York, New York; and the fab Porscha Morgan, now resident of Oslo, Norway; will make it a special day of celebrations across the globe.

March 20

On Wednesday, the 20th, the reign of the sun sign, Pisces, will come to an end. This will see the legendary Lee Scratch Perry; celebrated artist Tina Spiro; the fab Rose Tavares-Finson; the lovely Susan Ward; Rosalee Brown James, in Lauderhill, Florida; Barbadian fitness model Darren Norris, now residing in Florida; the lovely Karen Blackwood, in New Jersey; and Patrick Maitland, in the Bronx, New York; being among the celebrated Pisceans celebrating their birthday.

Come next Thursday, the 21st, the age of the Arians will come to the fore and will see former Senator Deika Morrison; the esteemed Bindley Sangster; former top model Lyle Edward; the lovely Dionne Watt; Craig Fletcher, now in Englewood, New Jersey; north coast habitué Dale Rosene, of Marshall, Michigan; Auvil Orr, now in Toronto, Canada; and Shawn Williamson, also in Ontario, Canada, kicking off the age of Aries!

Many happy returns all around, with champagne toasts and beluga treats!