Waxing nostalgic treasured memories of his adolescent years spent at Wolmer’s Boys’, LIME CEO Garry Sinclair welcomed 25 fourth-form students of his alma mater (joined by their grade coordinator Karen Gobern) to break bread at a Jamaica Observer Salut! Applaud It-themed luncheon at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel on Thursday.

Himself a 1976 graduate of the iconic National Heroes Circle-located high school, Sinclair was delighted to share company alongside his LIME executive colleagues, Carlo Redwood, vice-president of marketing; Dwight Williams, head of products; and Elon Parkinson, head of corporate communications, themselves proud alums of Wolmer’s, as well as Campion grad Rochelle Cameron, LIME’s company secretary and head of legal and regulatory, to entertain the young men over a three-course lunch of cream of pumpkin soup; roasted chicken, calypso shrimp and roasted beef with seasoned rice and candied plantain; completed with a chocolate mousse with almond cranberry brittle for dessert.

Exercising their best table manners, whether previously learnt or quickly studied around the table, the young men were receptive to Sinclair’s request to entertain questions, in-between courses.

The affable CEO, whose jocular personality won over the teenagers, addressed questions about LIME’s Flow takeover and his Wolmerian past (there were tales of skipping school across the adjoining wall at Mico to go and watch kung-fu movies at the now defunct Regal Cinema).

Sinclair admitted to not being the brightest of his class while at Wolmer’s and only realising his academic potential after he migrated to the United States to live with his mother, late actress Madge Sinclair.

“Don’t believe that a CXC pass or fail will hold you back from what you want to achieve; you have to have ambition,” the CEO told the gathering of teenaged boys. “Don’t believe your lives will be determined by just where you are today,” he added.

His message resonated around the table, as fourth-former Shaun Battick, delivering the vote of thanks, said while lunch provided physical nourishment, Sinclair gave he and his peers food for serious thought.

Reason indeed, to applaud!

— Omar Tomlinson

(PHOTOS: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)