Dear Editor,
In an earlier recollection mention was made of the hospitality the Booker Group provided at Herdmanston House in Queenstown.
But few would remember their substantive investment at the time in the Hotel Tower (still so named in the exact location); as well as what is known as the Georgetown Club – then an aesthetic two-storeyed structure raised fashionably on stilts. Its last resident was the then Chairman of Bookers Stores; while located immediately south was, and still exists Colgrain House whose contemporary resident at the time was the Chairman of Bookers Sugar Estates.
Colgrain House was where the screening and selection took place for the eleven shortlisted candidates for the Booker Cadetships awarded in 1957 – my year.
It was later donated by Bookers as accommodation for the first office of the newly established Caricom Secretariat. Meanwhile, the Georgetown Club constituted of sponsored membership to which the Booker Group facilitated access of its managers.
My own membership began not long after I joined the Bookers Sugar Estates Head Office in 1964.
As I recall the cuisine offered was essentially local, with the delicious pepperpot being perhaps the most celebrated dish any day at any time.
It has long been replaced, but now only on a weekly basis, by a curry lunch.
Whatever the length and level of membership, a tie was a prerequisite to admission to the premises. So that there was the spectacle of estate managers who, after monthly meetings at the Head Office, would retreat to the Georgetown Club, in their standard khaki shorts and shirts, being required to queue up and be adorned by an attendant with ritualistic tie, before being allowed entry into the hallowed halls.
This formality was at times complemented with the serving of a meal including the special ‘stuffed pigeon’ – commonsensibly ‘stuffed’ with ‘pigeon peas’. What a delicately tasteful memory.
The recent management would hardly be aware of the popularity of ‘pepperpot’ and the indulgence in ‘stuffed pigeon’, for which the Georgetown Club was reputed during most of the last century.
Yours faithfully,
E.B. John
