The Tribune

BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREEPORT – St Mary Magdalene Anglican Church will commemorate the first Majority Rule Day holiday with a gourmet dinner and wine paring at Old Bahama Bay in West End on Friday, January 9.

Rev Fr Ian Claridge, rector of St Mary’s in West End, said the event will be held under the theme, ‘Unity in Diversity,’ and will feature a seven-course meal and the pairing of several wines with each course.

Fr Claridge, who was an award-winning chef, will prepare the meal for 150 at the gardens of the Club House of Old Bahama Bay.

Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe, MP for West End, will speak about Majority Rule Day.

“I want to congratulate the government for recognising this milestone in our nation,” said Fr Claridge.

“Majority Rule was achieved, yes, under the PLP but it was the coming together and the uniting of all Bahamians when we took a stake in our destiny.

“I pray that we, as Bahamians, recognise that we need each other and that must all work together.”

Fr Claridge said money from the event will go to supporting the church’s soup kitchen.

Every Friday, they serve around 80 to 100 people in the West End community, he said.

“The church has a role to play in society; our God-given mandate is to feed the hungry and clothed poor through events such as this.”

Before being ordained to the priesthood, Fr Claridge spent 20 years as a chef at Paradise Island and was an award winning international chef.

He spent most of this time at the Atlantis Resort, where he was a Sous Chef at the Grill Room & Caf� restaurant, preparing gourmet meals for hotel guests. Prior to that, he worked at the Ocean Club.

In 2003, Fr Claridge was ordained. He has served exclusively on Grand Bahama.

He has served as rector of St Mary Magdalene since September 2010 and is also Chaplain at the Bishop Michael Eldon School.
Organist Lance Wilkinson, who is a wine connoisseur, said they will be serving red and white wines.

He said some of the wines complement the meal, others clean the palette, and some aid in digestion.

Entertainment will be provided by Maxine Bartlett and Little Joe and the Boys. 
Jareth Rolle, site manager at GLA Resort Holdings, said the company is pleased to be able to assist the Anglican Church by having them use the gardens at OBB as a venue.

“It is going to be a great event and we urge persons to come out and enjoy themselves,” he said.
Fr Claridge thanked that sponsors of the event, including the Ministry of Tourism, Old Bahama Bay, Teaser’s Restaurant, Imagine Graphics, and Bristol Wines and Cellars.