How quickly a year passes! Certainly, Hanover Chair Katrin Casserly and her able team, buoyed by last year’s Red Carpet Affair: A Valentine’s of Glitz and Glam, sought inspiration for this, the 59th, from the stars and sea and invited guests to attend The Fantasea Ball. The response was immediate — with tables of eight and 10 quickly snagged. The rains, which fell at exactly the same time as the ball, failed to put a damper on the enthusiasm as guests made their way, gorgeously styled in colours of the sea, down the black and white tiled steps of Round Hill Hotel & Villas and to the well-appointed Appleton bar on the lower lobby lawn for cocktails. There was opportunity, too, for guests to participate in the silent auction and the PJ Stewart curated art exhibition.

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Dinner and the start of an evening of Fantasea & Giving followed with a menu crafted by award-winning chef Martin Maginley — Rocket Salad from Round Hill’s organic garden followed by roasted Caribbean snapper, and closing with key lime cheese cake, petits fours and Blue Mountain Coffee.

Round Hill Hotel & Villas Managing Director Josef Forstmayr welcomed guests Katrin Casserly and Jennifer Flanagan, as the chair and vice-chair of Hanover Charities respectively readied for the live auction, which was handled by the inimitable Brian Roper. There was enthusiastic bidding for a chance to meet with Grammy Award-winning, diamond-selling, global recording artiste Shaggy the opportunity to attend the exclusive Ralph Lauren Collection Runway Show in September and to acquire a piece of sculpture by Jamaica’s foremost sculptor Basil Watson.

Another successful Sugar Cane Ball ended with guests on the dance floor enjoying the sounds of Chokey Taylor & Band.

Get ready for the big one — 60 — next year!

Hanover Charities has for almost fiv

e decades been responsible for a multitude of projects, with special emphasis on health and education. Indeed 95 students achieved their dream last year of attending tertiary institutions through donations raised primarily at the Sugar Cane Ball. Other projects include sponsoring the Cecile Clare Soup Kitchen of Love in Lucea serving over 700 people once a week and remedial and breakfast programmes in 11 schools. There is an annual grant to the Westhaven Home for Disabled and Abandoned Children.

Hanover Charities is curently one of the largest charitable organisations in western Jamaica.