The Shirleys' multiple celebrations

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

It's been one fabulous Virgo season, with loads of fabulous parties everywhere.

Simply put, luvs, it's been reigning Virgo and then some!

One of the more fabulous parties was the soiree hosted by Greg Shirley at his Rio Nuevo home in St Mary to celebrate the birthday of his wife, artist Susan Shirley, their son G. Brenton Shirley and her twin brother, Larry Roberts.

With his wife and brother-in-law celebrating their 60th birthday, and son G. Brenton celebrating his 35th, y'all know we are talking about a very special outing here. This was not just a fabulous Virgo celebration, but also a family reunion of sorts, as Shirleys from Portland in the east, to Montego Bay in the west, were out in a fab and celebratory mood.

And the Roberts, too, were out with Larry and his lovely wife, Robyn, jetting in from Oregon, for the occasion. Their mom, the very charming Dorothy Roberts, at 93, also joined the celebration; plus a number of other relatives jetting in.

Greg Shirley is known nationally and internationally in financial and auditing circles as a man of unimpeachable character. He is also famous for his laid-back soirees and continental ease. So when it was first heard that this year his wife Susan would be celebrating the big 6-0, there was literally a queue to join in on the celebrations.

Held two Sundays ago, the event made the historic battle site in St Mary the preferred destination for the weekend!

Dears, set at the poolside of the very swanky home, with the deck overlooking the sprawling expanse of the Caribbean Sea, the party was a celebration of family and friends of long standing, who braved what was a heavy downpour earlier that afternoon to attend. Once they got there, there was no escaping the familial nature of the celebration.

Children splashed in the pool; men shared anecdotes and women sported the latest fashion trends. It was fabulously clear that this was a gathering of people of style.

Dears, libations flowed freely, glasses were garnished with mini- 'brollies' and or straws decorated with faux fruits and or flowers - adding that sense of haute frivolity to drinking.

Fabulous fare

Lunch proved a most fabulous fare, the speciality a Portland wild boar, cooked to perfection, made for a most mouth-watering and satisfying stew; the sausages, simply to die for!

After lunch, the host took to the landing of stairs and toasted his wife, their son and his brother-in-law and thanked all for joining him in the celebration of the rather special milestone in their lives. He then invited other Virgo birthday celebrants to join him and his family for one big birthday chorus.

Luvs, it made for a very warm moment.

Then there was an e-cake, and then there was the birthday cake, that served as dessert, and my word, scrumptiously so!

Partying continued way into the evening. Among the guests were Paul Robertson; Robert and Judy Levy; former Jamaican ambassador to the United States, Professor Gordon Shirley; Dr Aggrey Irons and wife Jackie; Dr and Mrs John McDowell; Dr David Crawford and family; Ryland Campbell; Carrole Guntley; Jag Mehta; Peter and Annabella Proudlocke; Paul and Yvonne Bourke, and son Richard Bourke; Guy Morris and the lovely Berl Francis; Michael Capleton; Beth Hyde; the elegant Audrey Chin and her gorgeous daughter Lisa Chin.

We spotted: Joseph Auxilly and his companion, the lovely Sandra Shirley; Fernando and Linda DePeralto; Betty Ann Jones; Guy and Charmaine McIntosh; Rafael and Robin deComas; George Faria; Superintendent and Mrs Dudley Scott (of the Port Maria police); Herman McDaniel and Kay Brown; Kelvin Roberts; Carol Creighton; Anthony Hall; the charming Sylvia Bagaloo, and son Wilfred Bagaloo.

Also out were: Bennie and Rose Reynolds; Tarun and Katherine Handa; Conrad and Pat Daley-Smith; Brydon and Marlene McGregor; Boris and Sheila Smith; Simon and Nichola Dickson; Stephen and Sharon Chin; Michael Lindo; the lovely Esmie McDonald; Dennis and Annette Robotham; Errol McDonald; Bridgette Levy; Chistopher Henry; Marlon and Carla Farquharson; Alvin (Carl) Henry; Evelyn Thompson; Chub and Kathy Pearson; Miguel Bernard; Barbara McFarlane; Chubb and Cynthia Sherlock; Janice Harvey; Richard Shirley; Danny Shirley; Lenny Shirley from Shirley Castle, in Portland, who brought in the speciality cooks for the boar); and the lovely Patricia Shirley, plus a number of others.