THERE was heartfelt laughter, reunions, and more than a few nostalgic stories as J Wray & Nephew Limited welcomed its pensioners to a special luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, celebrating not only the company’s bicentenary but also the men and women whose dedication helped shape one of Jamaica’s most iconic institutions.

Hosted by veteran broadcaster and media personality Colonel Fae Ellington, the event culminated the company’s year-long celebration of its 200th anniversary, bringing together former employees, executives, and pensioners for an afternoon of fellowship, appreciation and reflection.

Welcoming the gathering, General Manager Cecil Smith Jr paid tribute to the pensioners whose commitment laid the foundation for the company’s enduring success.

“You are the unsung heroes who toiled day and night to create this great cathedral we call J Wray & Nephew. Without your dedication, passion and care, we would not be celebrating this incredible milestone today,” Smith said.

J Wray and Nephew’s oldest female pensioner, 94-year-old Ivy Bell was a vision in red as she stepped out to celebrate her legacy at theJWN Pensioners’ Luncheon, recently. 

Making the occasion especially meaningful was the presence of Smith’s father, himself a former employee who devoted more than four decades of service to the company.

“I want to thank him for laying a solid foundation for me to emulate — a foundation built on dedication, pride, commitment, teamwork and integrity,” Smith shared, before extending that gratitude to all the pensioners who had mentored and inspired him throughout his career.

Offering reassurance about the company’s future, Smith said the organisation remains strong, describing the current leadership team as proud custodians of the legacy entrusted to them.

“The walls are well-painted and glowing under the Caribbean sun. The machinery is humming, our trucks are on the road, and the fundamentals of your company remain solid,” said Smith.

Some of the guests at the recent J Wray & Nephew Pensioners’ Luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel

Former Managing Director Clement “Jimmy” Lawrence also brought brief greetings.

“I see and feel family here. Looking around this room brings back so many memories of friendships, hard work, laughter, and the shared experiences that helped build one of Jamaica’s great companies,” he said.

Drawing laughter from the audience, Lawrence joked that retirement simply replaces one set of worries with another.

“They say retirement is when you stop lying awake at night worrying about work and start lying awake wondering why you walked into the kitchen,” he quipped.

Speaking as both a former chairman of the pension scheme and now a pensioner himself, Lawrence reflected on the friendships forged over decades of service, and encouraged retirees to embrace this stage of life.

A proud father-and-son moment between Cecil Smith junior (left) and senior, celebrating their combined years of service to J Wray & Nephew Limited at the company’s recent JWN Pensioners’ Luncheon. 

“Retirement should not simply be about growing older. It should be about living well, enjoying family, maintaining friendships, travelling when we can, staying active, and being grateful for every new day,” he said.

He also offered valuable financial advice to younger generations, urging them to take pension planning seriously.

“When you’re 30 years old, retirement seems like a lifetime away. When you’re 65, you wonder where the years went,” he said.

Lawrence praised the company’s long-standing commitment to employee welfare, noting the foresight that established a United States dollar-denominated annuity with inflation adjustments through Sagicor, as well as the company’s decision to voluntarily share surplus funds from its former defined benefit pension scheme.

Eighty-four-year-old Matthew Purai (right) here is recognised as the oldest male pensioner at the JWN Pensioners’ Luncheon. He received a token from J Wray & Nephew Limited General Manager Cecil Smith Jr. 

According to him, “That reflected a corporate culture that recognised that people are not simply employees. They are members of a community that deserves dignity and respect long after active service has ended,” he said.

The event also recognised two remarkable former members of the J Wray & Nephew family: Ivy “Maisie” Bell, aged 94, who was honoured as the eldest female pensioner, while 87-year-old Matthew Purai received recognition as the eldest male pensioner.

Founded in 1825 at the Shakespeare Tavern in downtown Kingston, J Wray & Nephew has grown from humble beginnings into Jamaica’s oldest registered company and one of the country’s most recognised corporate brands.

Today, its products are sold in 196 countries while its flagship Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum remains the world’s number one high-strength rum brand. The company is also on track to surpass $30 billion in annual revenue, underscoring its continued strength in both local and international markets.