Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson (centre) and husband J. Howard Johnson with birthday girl Heather, their daughter. - Contributed photos

They first came to Jamaica nearly 40 years ago; she as a young blushing bride, he the anxious groom. The occasion was their honeymoon, and for their stay they chose the ultra-chic and celebrated getaway of the rich and famous, Tryall Beach Club.

Well, since then, they have matured into a most charming, accomplished and celebrated couple, whose sphere of social and political influence reached into the very heart of the Republican political and power establishments of the United States and around the globe!

That couple is the charming J. Howard Johnson and his wife, Brenda LaGrange Johnson.

Hosts supreme

Little wonder then, that when the vacancy arose here for the US to appoint a new diplomatic envoy to Jamaica, the choice of President George W. Bush was none other than Mrs Johnson.

And so, from her first visit as a newlywed, Ambassador Johnson and her husband returned to Jamaica as their country's first citizens here. They have both endeared themselves to Jamaica through their involvement not only on diplomatic and governmental levels, but also, and more important, on the social level, as hosts supreme and as preferred guests.

So, with cherished memories from their honeymoon and tenure as first citizens cementing fond memories of the beauty and charm of the island and its people, the couple decided that the charm, magic and beauty of the island was a treasure not to be concealed, but to be shared with those nearest and closest to them.

And so it was, that on the occasion of their daughter Heather Sargent's 35th birthday, they threw her an unforgettable party to mark the occasion. It was truly a celebration of family and friends in the form of a five-day and night fest, that culminated with a gala of a swelleganza on Saturday, October 11, and Tryall never looked so good or partied so much in one week.

Dubbed 'Rocktober', it was that kind of a shindig. With guests pouring in from all over the US, Ambassador and Mr Johnson opened the celebrations with a welcoming cocktail reception at the fabulous Twin Palms Villa on Thursday of that week with a truly Jamaican flavour, with the famous Scotchies taking the catering honours and the Innergrove Music Ensemble (from the Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios) making it happen musically.

On Friday, it was all about sand, sea, sun and fun with family members and friends engaging in a myriad of activities that included golfing, volleyball, tennis, and all-around laid-back partying.

That gave way to a night of dinner parties by guests at their individual cottages and villas, before being treated to a simply fab after-dinner command performance by singing sensation Jaine Rodgers, the fabulous Anguillan songbird, who was the opening act for Diana Ross and the Divas at Radio City Hall last May.

Saturday was the big day and night. The day got under way with a little friendly sandcastle making competition, round-robin tennis and Jamaican lunch. But that was just the teaser for the celebration that was to come. With the invite to the do suggesting fancy dress and flip-flops as the dress code, y'all know that we are talking nothing but fab-expectations here!

The evening began promptly at 7:00, with cocktails on the beach-deck of the Tryall Beach Club with guests dressed to a T. The hostess looking a picture of high-glam and haute eleganza in a red and white couture number, her hubby a picture of relaxed ease in shirtsleeves. Meanwhile, the birthday girl looked oh-so-fabulous in red, as they all greeted guests and made introductions all around.

From sixes and nines, with premium libations to an elegant dinner party under a giant marquee done-up by the celebrated Sascha of Tai-Flora, to dancing under the stars and overlooking the glistening waters of the Caribbean Sea, plus the music of Pace Discotheque, it was a nothing short of magical!

Notables in attendance

Among the notables out were the birthday girl's immediate family as well as her siblings Grange Johnson (and his wife Susan and their three children) and twin brothers Brett and Grant Johnson; their cousin David Hitt; former US Ambassador to Jamaica Ambassador Gary Cooper; Lois Peerce and others from the US.

Also out were Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett; Minister of Transport and Works Mike Henry and wife Dawn; Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica Jésus and Sara Silva; Maurice and Valerie Facey; Tony and Sheila Hart; their son Marc Hart and wife Candace; Barclay and Deidre Ewart; Mark and Diane McConnell; hotel tycoon Gordon 'Butch' Stewart and his son Adam; Michele Rollins; Robert and Judy Levy; Nigel Pembleton; Robert MacMillan and Candy DePass; Capt Michael and Thalia Lyn; Dr Dhiru and Dr Laura Tanna; the lovely Justine Henzell; David Phillips and his sister, the charming Mary Phillips; the very lovely Audrey Marks; Aubyn and Tamara Hill; Yoni Epstein; the charming Carol-Rose Brown and Richard Ferdinand; plus a number of others.

Jamming with the Johnsons at 'Rocktober' are Robert and Judy Levy (above) and Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett and Dawn Henry (right).