JUST ABOUT ONE MILE NORTH of Grantley Adams International Airport, the watering hole for many on Pilgrim Road Christ Church over the years still remains.
Despite renovations in recent times, the Flash-N-Bar is still the traditional place for folks to relax and entertain themselves in various ways.
The current proprietor, Mrs Hazel Collymore who just reached her 70-year milestone, maintains that effervescent spirit which manifests itself in her never-ending labour to keep her customers satisfied.
Her love for hard work is perhaps only matched by her love for her lifelong partner Nigel. In January 2013 she should be celebrating her fiftieth wedding anniversary.
In recognition of her seventy-year landmark, some of her friends, associates and acquaintances joined her for an evening of wine, chatter, music and song.
Karaoke lovers were prominent among them, including a regular karaoke lover who visits the bar frequently – Colin Reifer of the famous Reifer clan from St George.
His entourage, which included his wife Cheryl and Stephen Griffith, accompanied him. Herman Lovell, another karaoke regular, was also prominent among the guests.
Others present for the occasion were Wilfred Abrahams, past president of the Barbados Bar Association and also a candidate for that area in the upcoming general election, and some members of his team which included former primary school principal and Senior Education Officer Dr Dan Carter.
Winston Stafford, board member of the Barbados Cricket Association who resides in the nearby Gibbons Terrace area, was spotted having a good chat with a few of the other guests.
Cricket seemed to be on his mind but we realized it must have competed with the current forays into political discourse which now prevails in various venues around the island.
The deejay was even more upbeat than his usual effervescent self as he kept the atmosphere full of life with choice selections of Caribbean music to reflect the celebratory mood that prevailed.
Robert Belgrave, who brands himself as DJ Milo, was also giving guests their choice of karaoke selections from a wide array of genres and eras. He has been operating his deejay and karaoke system for nearly a decade now and speaks proudly of his stints on the Maxwell Coast Road at Thommo’s (now defunct) and the Spotlight Bar which occupied the same spot when Thommo’s closed.
Apart from Flash-N-Bar on Friday nights, he indicated that we were also welcome to join him at Pappy’s Bar at Free Hill on Monday nights.
For Hazel Collymore, the Flash-N-Bar represents the hallmark of her almost lifelong business as a food and beverage provider. In more recent times she has also entered the transportation and hospitality business.
For her, it is all business and the pride and industry that accompany a woman’s search for independence through thrift and labour.
She told us: “I am happy to serve my customers the same way as I have been for years.”
At 70, Hazel Collymore is still dedicated to service in the business sector while keeping her clients happy.