Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

The name Bovell is one that has been known throughout the Caribbean territories for generations, their sphere of influence ranging from land barons to learned jurists who have combined their commitment to excellence to serving their fellow men and country.

Here in Jamaica, the patriarch of the Bovell family is the venerable jurist, Christopher Bovell. Over the years, he has had distinguished career and he earned the respect of his peers and colleagues as a man of unimpeachable integrity. He saw him serving his country as a senator in the upper house of the nation's Parliament in the 1980s.

Known and celebrated nationally and internationally as a leading legal mind, he and his simply tres elegant wife, the belissima grande and socialite, Michelle Bovell, are not just leading lights in Jamaican social circles, they are in fact two pillars of civilised society!

Charity and philanthropy

Christopher and Michele Bovell are your traditionalists in every sense of the term. Their charity and philanthropy, not indulged in for the camera lens; they hold friends and family in the highest esteem. They prefer more reserved outings as against showy splashes. More importantly, theirs is a charmingly civilised way of living.

And so it was, that last week, when it was whispered that indeed Christopher and Michelle Bovell would be hosting a reception, for those in the know, it was nothing new; for some others it was a question of keeping one's fingers crossed in the hope of making the cut!

Well, my daahlings, they hosted a reception in honour of Cheridah Lawrie, sister of Bovell. Lawrie resides in the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago and has been doing so since her marriage to a Trinidadian some 40 years ago.

Now, the charming Lawrie, except for an occasional trip back home to Jamaica over the years for family events, rarely visits this the land of her birth. This, despite her fierce loyalty which sees her maintaining her Jamaican passport and nationality. But her duties and commitments have kept her away.

Well, to celebrate her first return visit in nearly a decade, her brother and sister-in-law, threw a welcome reception in her honour on Saturday, August 29, at their upper St Andrew residence, in Jacks Hill.

Fabulous setting

Dears, hosted in the beautifully appointed gardens, decorated lily ponds, strategically placed love seats and a number of cosy nooks, with flowering plants adding colour and charm. Blooming orchids took pride of place in the fabulous setting. The gardens proved a most welcoming atmosphere; warm to the core.

Dears it was a night in which superlatives took a back seat for haute substance as this was civilised society out and at its best. The belle, Cherida Laurie, looking as charming and as relaxed as ever, did the rounds, greeting old friends and welcoming new acquaintances.

And with the award-winning food and beverage manager of the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Nancy McLean, headlining a small army of staff, to serve some absolutely delicious hors d'oeuvres; as libations flowed, there was no escaping the goodwill that prevailed.

As for the company, among the leading pillars of uber society out, were former prime minister, Edward Seaga and wife, Carla; Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva and Sara Silva; Ambassador Arthur and Eleanor Thompson; Dennis Lalor; Willy and Pat Thwaites; John Andrews and his wife, Jill; Christopher and Jill Roberts; John and Jenny Greaves; John Clarke; the very charming Jo Page, her son-in-law Richard Stewart and his lovely wife, Diana ; her brother Robin Delisser and his wife Trina.

Also out were Charles Hanna; the venerable Susan Alexander; Anthony and Jeanne Watson; Earl Levy; Ronnie and Barbara Sasso; the charming Ruby Martin; Robert MacMillan; socialite Judy Michelin, in from Mandeville; Poker and Sati Chandiram; the elegant Lorna Myers and her granddaughters, Bianca and Alliana Bovell; Norman and Jean Wright; Joy Mahfood; Dr Ralph Thompson and his elegant wife, Dodi ; George Fatta; the elegant Sue MacManus; Eran and Tina Spiro; John and Sue Bloomfield; Drs Dhiru and Laura Tanna.

We saw Alastair McBeath and his fabulous wife, Carol; Ian and Patricia Don; Paul Hanna; Mrs Joyce Hudson; Mr and Mrs Gordon Langford; Ralph and Maureen Lannigan; John and Joan Lannigan; John and Jennifer Otway; Helen Myers; Peter and Jean-Ann Matthies; Gordon and Elisabeth Hall; Terry Shoucair and daughter, Tara; Robert and Odette Epstein; and the lovely Lisa Morris; plus a number of others.