Mustique People

The Island of Mustique lies WSW of Bequia, about 12 miles by sea from Admiralty Bay.  It was owned by Colin Tennant when I first went to live on Bequia, well before it was taken over by the Mustique Company.  Although technically a part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with Customs, Immigration and an airport, it was (and still is) a private Island.

Many famous people owned houses on Mustique, and over the years I met a lot of them.  The homes they built on the Island were lavish but in keeping with the tropical environment, and staffed mostly by people from the Grenadines. The wealthy on Mustique cherished their privacy, and the tiny Island was a peaceful haven for them.

Mick Jagger was one of the more famous home-owners on Mustique and spent time there whenever he had the opportunity to do so.  The first time he ate at Mac’s Pizzeria I was totally unaware of his presence until the next day, when I noticed the signature on the travelers’ check he had used.  If I had taken his order and served him myself I wouldn’t have noticed that he was any different from a normal tourist and that’s one of the things he loved about the Grenadines. Truly famous people love anonymity, those that crave attention are usually wannabees!

One day I got a call from the Mustique office.  Mr. Jagger wanted to reserve a table in a secluded section of the restaurant and I laughed – by then Mick Jagger and friends had dined several times at the Pizzeria and he knew we didn’t have private rooms.  I pushed together two tables on the extension for the party of 8, who were sailing over from Mustique on a yacht.

What a star-studded table!  I was able to watch Mick Jagger and David Bowie from my vantage point in the kitchen as they ate lobster pizza with their equally famous friends. I tended to judge famous people by how they treated my staff, and they were friendly and courteous at all times. Mick Jagger and David Bowie were never arrogant or pushy (we had our share of that kind over the years!) and I liked them.

The day came when Mr. Jagger arrived to have lunch with his family and was recognized by tourists.  He was always low-key when he came to Bequia, and in earlier years people hadn’t known who he was.  On this occasion word spread that Mick Jagger was at Mac’s and I had to stand guard at the front of the restaurant to keep people from pestering him as he ate.  In all the years he had patronized the Pizzeria I believe it was the first time people tried to approach him with cameras.

Mr. Jagger must have been aware that I had warded off un-wanted attention as he lunched.  As he was leaving he shook my hand and said, “Thanks so much Simon”.  Simon? After all these years he thought my name was Simon?  Oh well, he was a nice man so I forgave him for not remembering my name, and Simon DOES sound a bit like Simmons!