From Left: Percy Clarke with Odette and Godfrey Dyer at a birthday party in Clarke's honour at the Dyers' Montego Bay home last week Friday night.
WESTERN BUREAU:
Attorney-at-law Percy Clarke arrived at Godfrey and Odette Dyer's Ironshore home last Friday, prepared to watch the famous movie Scarface, while devouring his favourite gungo peas soup.
Little did the New York-based lawyer, who flies home weekly to his wife Murine, know that several of his friends had tricked him into attending his own birthday soiree. The well cooked-up surprise took months for Murine Clarke and Odette Dyer to find the right ingredients and they succeeded.
The surprise
So on Friday night those held to secrecy arrived at the venue just before 7:30 p.m., half an hour before the birthday boy. Many hid their cars in the most conspicuous of places and, at 8, emptied the living area of the townhouse.
With the lights out, Clarke entered unsuspectingly to a chorus of "Happy Birthday to you".
With surprises and gifts out of the way, it was time to partake of the most scrumptious barbecued spare ribs cooked with love by Odette Dyer, Cheryl Atkinson's leg of lamb, Beverly Russell's sweet and sour chicken and curried shrimp.
Romaine lettuce from the Dyer garden, scallop potatoes and premium liquor topped an evening that went into the wee hours of the morning.
Good entertainment
Metty Scarlett-Jones (left) and Cynthia Campbell check out the food at Percy Clarke's birthday party.
Music from pop star Shakira, Michael Jackson, Olivia Newton John, the O'Jays, Glen Campbell, Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, and a host of 1970s and '80s musicians provided entertainment for the likes of Summerfest Production's Johnny Gourzong, Robert Russell, Joan and Clive Lee, Metty Scarlett-Jones, Cecile Lee, Jackie Bird, Dorothy Vendryes and Lee-Anne Gourzong.
Janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com
Left: New York-based, Jamaican resident, attorney Percy Clarke, celebrates his birthday with wife Murine at a surprise party in his honour at Odette and Godfrey Dyer's home in Montego Bay. Right: A lover of Latino singer Shakira, Beverly Russell danced up a storm at Percy Clarke's birthday party at Odette and Godfrey Dyer's Montego Bay home last Friday night.