From left: Christina Clough, sister Jessica, Robert MacMillan and Candy DePass enjoy each other's company at the party. - Contributed photos
Oh my dears, it may not be such a jolly good season after all. The buzz all around is that the traditional round of parties will take a back seat this season as the cash crunch hitting our neighbours up north and beyond is actually starting to make its presence felt here as well.
Word is, it's going to be a much leaner party season, as some of the finest parties on the Christmas andNew Year calendars are now subject to suspension or massive downsizing, restricted to only close friends and/or family members.
Well, last Saturday, with storm clouds threatening, advertising dynamo Robert MacMillan, the honorary consul of Iceland, threw open the portals to his fabulous home, and hosted a charming 'do'. It proved a fab fest and swelleganza and nothing but.
A man of deep and abiding principles, his professional and social connections reach into every sphere of Jamaican life and stretch across the globe. In MacMillan is the personification of charity, charm and substance.
In preparing his son to succeed him at the helm of the prestigious MacMillan Advertising Agency, the late Dudley MacMillan sent him Robert off to the United States of America, Canada, and Europe to study and familiarise himself with the emerging trends in advertising in those markets.
Mastered craft
Along the way, not only did the young MacMillan do well in his studies, he mastered the craft and was later awarded the Master Advertising Practitioner by the TransCanada Advertising Agencies Network in 1987, thus making their agency the only one in Jamaica affiliated with the prestigious organisation.
When MacMillan embraces friends, he does so unstintingly and usually for life. One of the friends he made during his time was Jack Hudolin of Thunder Bay, in Ontario, Canada. Decades later both Hudolin and MacMillan are at the top of their game. So, to toast their friendship, Hudolin and his wife Maria flew to Jamaica for a week of rest and relaxation as MacMillan's guests.
The fab couple visited Lime Cay and toured historic sites and places of interest across the city. They were hosted at a number of parties.
MacMillan and companion, the charming Candy DePass, hosted a reception for the visiting couple by the poolside of his trés chic hacienda-styled residence and my dears, what a smasheroni it was.
Dears, we are talking fab and proper here and nothing but with piano music and absolutely engaging company making for a most wonderful outing.
Among the notables out for the occasion, were: Glynne Manley; Spanish Ambassador Jesús Silva and wife, Sara; German Ambassador Jurgen and his wife, Ana-Martha Engel; Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda; Belgian Ambassador Frederic Meurice; Canadian High Commission's Trade Commissioner Robert Shaw-Wood; siblings Charles and Mary Hanna; Desmond Blades and his wife Peggy; the renowned Earl Levy; Andrew and Debbie Issa; the charming Jennifer Lim; Richard and Diana Stewart; Businessman Michael Campbell and companion Dulcie Moodie; Scotia bank's new chief, Bruce Bowen and his fab wife Suzanne.
Also out were Cleto Parkinson; American financial consultant and venture capitalist Mark Jones and his fab wife, architect Julie; Leicester and Belinda Levy; John Burrowes; Clelia Barretto de Hunter; Peter Millingen; Matthew and Jennie Pragnell and their son Freddie Pragnell; Micky Hill; Maree Sigurdsson and daughter Quiz; William and Sandy Tavares-Finson; Paul Constantine and Peta-Gay McConnell; Michael and Beverly Hirst; George and Debbie Cumming; R. Christine King; Martin Schade and wife Carmen; the lovely Christina Clough and her sister, the lovely Jessica Clough; Michelle Haynes, plus a number of others.
Hostess Candy DePass (left), with guests of honour Mark and Maria Hudolin at last Saturday's reception hosted by Robert MacMillan in St Andrew