Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Left: Dr. Oliver King of British Airways presents AnnMarie Chin of Total Travel Services with an award for being BA's Top Performing Local Travel Agency at the airline's anniversary dinner and dance, in celebration of 60 years of partnership with the people of Jamaica, held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, on Tuesday.   Right: British Airways' Dianne Corrie presents Pokar Chandiram with a special award for his unswerving commitment to travel on BA. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Ever since the wheels of the first British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) aircraft touched Jamaican soil in 1946, Britain and Jamaica have been making sweet flights together.

British Airways (BA), as it was renamed, has kept the planes and the passengers coming to this island since then, and on Tuesday night, the management thanked its loyal customers and clients with a dinner at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel. The intermittent, and at times heavy rain outside made inside even that more cosy. This was the latest event in a year that has been all about celebrating the 60 years of BA's service to Jamaica. This 'flight' was even more comfy with Mr. Cool himself, Michael Anthony Cuffe, as pilot/MC, and a great 'in-flight entertainment package'.

The Bare Essentials Band, featuring the vocal talents of Maria Myrie, entertained with Perfidia, Feel Like Jumping and To Sir With Love (which was dedicated specially to all the men), were among her repertoire and had the guests singing along, including a few notes from British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell.

What better way to say thanks than to honour some of your biggest clients and hardest working staff? Cable and Wireless, Total Travel Services, Sackville Travel Services in Britain, Pokar Chandiram for his unswerving commitment to BA, and Woodrow Patterson, BA's longest-serving employee, all received awards.

Pride in serving Jamaica

Dr. Oliver King, BA's senior vice-president for Latin America and the Caribbean, reiterated his company's pride in serving this market and vowed to continue trying to keep BA ahead of the curve. State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Delano Franklyn, who was guest speaker, said that regardless of what caused the increase in tourist arrivals, it would not have been possible without the assistance of an entity like BA who stuck with the sector during good times and bad.

With an inviting dance floor waiting, guests soon 'dropped legs' as the 'flight' touched down over city Kingston.

Among those who came out were BA executives Michael Holder; Ian Blackman; Georgette Manning; Merrick and Camille Needham; Donald Dawson; French Ambassador Francis Hurtut; Head of the EU delegation Ambassador Gerd Jarchow and wife Mara, and Courtney Walsh.