A taste of the Caribbean came to East Williamston on Saturday.
As guests entered the Community Hall they were greeted with complimentary drinks of 'Planters' Rum Punch' and then stood amazed at the room's transformation.
Decorated with coloured lights, palm tree silhouettes, exotic plants, shells, flowers and flags of the different island nations, the setting was indeed worthy of the excellent three course meal which was served.
The hall and outside patio area were soon packed with about 125 people, eager to sample the exotic cuisine.
Callaloo soup or mellow melon was followed by Club Comanche chicken curry, escovische fish, salt fish and ackee, chicken drumsticks and accompaniments of savoury rices, potato salads, coleslaw, sweet corn and salads. Desserts of rum cake and ice-cream, sweet potato pudding and tropical fruit salad completed the repast.
The traditional Caribbean background music added to the atmosphere and, later in the evening, a number of people got up to dance the meringue (pronounced mer-an-gay and not associated with another sweet dessert!) and to try their luck at limbo.
The bar did a roaring trade in suitably exotic drinks and the entire event was a resounding success.
Everyone on the Community and Hall Association committee had been involved in the occasion but the wonderful cooking was mainly the work of Mina Doney, supported by her husband Graham. She was presented with a bouquet by Association chairman Donald Beynon, to the hearty applause of the appreciative diners.
The next event in the Community Hall will be on October 4, when Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir will give a concert.
This also marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the first East Williamston hall on the present site, and there is expected to be great demand for tickets at £3 each.
Anyone with photographs of the hall in bygone days or other memorabilia, or wishing to reserve tickets, can contact the booking clerk on (01834) 812144.