Love was definitely in the air and it filled the packed King’s House Ballroom on Sunday evening, July 19 as Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen celebrated forty years of marriage with a Musical Recital featuring performances by tenor Rory Baugh and Violinist Paulette Bellamy, along with Sopranos Lori Burnett and Ana Strachan, accompanied by Livingston Burnett, Pianist.
Compere Fae Ellington guided the programme as the performers delighted Their Excellencies and their family and friends with renditions such as ‘Because God made you mine’, ‘And this is my beloved’, ‘Till there was you’ and ‘Sull’ Aria’. However, it was a duet byLori Burnett and Rory Baugh titled ‘All I ask of You’ which saw Their Excellencies holding hands. This drew comical remarks from Fae Ellington as well as exciting responses from the audience as she relayed what she had observed.
In their remarks following the musical presentations, Their Excellences admitted that they were at a loss for words to express their deep appreciation to those who turned out to celebrate with them. “Lady Allen and I are speechless and cannot find words to show how deeply honoured we are by your presence, support and your demonstration of appreciation for us as we celebrate our fortieth year of journeying together, side by side in marriage,” Sir Patrick Allen said.
Instead of gifts, Their Excellencies requested that guests contribute to a scholarship fund which will enable a worthy student at the University of Technology to pursue a course of study in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. “I must tell you that we were blown over when the concept of this evening was brought to our attention,” His Excellency said. “Because of our natural disposition to be private and coy about things of this nature, our first reaction was that we were undeserving of this focus and really wanted to.
The couple said they conceded when they realized that a bright student will be sharing in their experience. “We relaxed and relented when we realized that we were not the only recipient of this evening’s celebration, but a worthy and needy young person, longing for a bright future, would be sharing serendipitously in this experience.”hide away from the spotlight.”
Their Excellencies described their forty years together as a “Wonderful, exciting and interesting journey” and described the experience as “trekking into the unknown and seeing doors open before us, difficulties surmounted and memories formed.” They credit the success of their marriage to God’s guidance and a commitment to trust each other, always believing that everything would work out for good. The evening concluded with a reception on the East Lawn which included the cutting of the cake and toasting of the celebrants.
Guests included: Mr. Andrew Holness, Leader of Opposition and Mrs. Holness, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment the Hon. Wykeham McNeill and Mrs. McNeill, former Governor-General Professor Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall, former Prime Minister Mr. Bruce Golding and Mrs. Golding, Ambassador Burchell Whiteman and Mrs. Whiteman, Honourable Custodes and a host of family and friends.
