Last Wednesday evening, a group of primarily senior citizens took over a section of Browne’s Beach, Bay Street, creating great merriment in keeping with the spirit of Christmas.
The 4 p.m. Wednesday Beach Posse, as the group calls itself, has made the spot, next to the lifeguard station, a regular meeting place over the last nine years.
“We always came to the beach,”?said Dolly Straughn, president of the group and credited as founder.
“Then we decided to take it further and formed an organized group. We have a really good time. We have many laughs.”
At this prime clearly-marked spot next to the public car park and with a view of the City lights to the north when sun had set, the posse relished the ambience provided by the trees: the gangling casuarinas, the shady attractive coconut, and the hardy, broad-leaf almond trees. Separate tents for food, drinks and music added appeal to the setting which was created for this festive celebration.
The multi-talented Anderson Mr Impact Ward, who has been playing for the event over the last three years, treated the folks to a variety of Christmas songs on pan as well as a diet of Bajan and Caribbean uptempo music.
His side-kick Shawnie (Barrow) also lent a hand to sing some of the calypsoes.
Mr Impact, a finalist in Crop Over’s Pic-O-De-Crop competition and well known for his sweet melodious voice, also sang a range of tunes for the happy crowd.
From the waltzing and social dance to the more modern calypso gyration style, the posse captured the spirit of goodwill that characterized the spirit of the season.
Age was clearly not a barrier for these folk who maintain their fitness through swimming and walking. For sure, every Wednesday they have a swim as one of their activities.
“It’s a good community thing that they are doing here,” Mr Impact told us.
“I like to see them come together and enjoying themselves. It is a really good Christmas do.”
The culinary fare on offer was a highlight. Linnell Nurse, one of the organizers, listed the traditional items: jug-jug, ham, turkey, pork, chicken, corn pie, macaroni pie, peas and rice, and great cake.
The Christmas event reflected the kind of cooperation which has prevailed all year.
For birthdays, members would organize a special celebration for the honourees.
The preparation of food every Wednesday is one of the main activities. For three Wednesdays in a month the women do the honours. The males would take one Wednesday.
One of the women, Margaret Hewitt, praised the men’s cooking. “Actually the men cook more food than the women on their day,” she said.
