OnSaturday October 3, 2009, the Big Purple Session celebrated its 11th anniversary with a bang at the brand new and immaculate Miramar Cultural Center in Miramar, Florida. As usual, music was provided by the ageless Fab Five Band with Leroy Sibbles as the guest artist. KC’s own ‘Yo-Yo’ Elliott and my classmate Audley ‘Fleet’ Patterson were the DJs at the turntable.
When my posse and I arrived at the venue at around 11p.m., the massive car park was almost full, which we took as a good sign. As I stepped inside the center, some of the first persons I greeted were from out of town; I ran into old boys and others from New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Atlanta, North Dakota, Toronto, the Bahamas and of course Jamaica. Much to my surprise, I also ran into a class mate of mine whom I had not seen since 1972 when he migrated to the USA. We were in third form then.
A member of the Jamaican contingent introduced me to the Minister of Education, the Hon. Anthony Holness, who remarked that KCOBA Miami had set the standard for fundraising among Jamaican high school alumni.
KC wives: Ouida Ford (l) and Vanla MacDonald pausing at Oct 3rd Dance
As usual the music by the band was fabulous and throughout the night it was well nigh impossible to find an unoccupied space on the dance floor. From all indications, the two bars were also very busy with long meandering lines and I was told that the latecomers could not get their favorite drinks – an indication that the early comers had ‘bought out the bar’ in true Jamaican style.
`It's the Same Song': `A Paragon' with a fan - Ray Ford at October 3rd Dance.
The Big Purple Session is now a seminal event that every KC old boy should attend, at least once. Of course, it is not only for KC folks and in fact, most of the patrons every year are from other schools. Everybody is welcomed and treated royally. The date is easy to remember as it is always on the first Saturday of October – and it is especially easy for me as my birthday is on the 2nd of October. The event is for a worthy cause since all the funds raised go back to Kingston College to support a variety of programmes and activities. I suspect that next year, the organizers at the KCOBA Miami Chapter may be looking for a bigger venue as the Miramar Cultural Center was in some ways not equipped to deal with the large crowd in attendance. Where ever the venue, I will be there and I hope to see you there as well - life spare!
Fortis.
By Dr. Cedric Lazarus
Reviewed by Barrington Salmon
