I first met my friend Jasper at De Reef, it was a crowded Sunday and I was busy selling tickets for a pig roast at Isle a Quatre. I was trying to raise money to build three Bequia Dinghies for the Junior Sailing Club and the tickets were selling like hotcakes.
I was approached by a rather eccentric-looking couple, they had heard about the pig roast from Mackie and wanted to buy tickets. One of the men was wearing a single, sequined glove a la Michael Jackson and a t-shirt filled with holes, rather strange attire for a tourist at the beach! They squealed with excitement over their tickets and I knew they would have a “fab” time at the pig roast. Their names were Jasper and John.
The trip to Isle a Quatre on Wave Dancer was fun, everyone was looking forward to a day of swimming, drinking, snorkeling and feasting on suckling pig. I chatted with Jasper and John as we departed Bequia and learned that they were from London, England. They explained that they were in the same type of business and were taking a much-needed break from their stressful jobs. Jasper and John were not a couple, just good friends enjoying a trip to the Caribbean.
Those two fellows had the time of their lives at the pig roast and they were not alone, everyone was enjoying the day. I was kept busy with the food preparations but spotted the two fellows up to their necks in the sea eating reef fish from a sea grape leaf. Because they were new to the Caribbean I had warned them to go easy on the rum punch, it was stronger than it tasted and so was the local weed! They were sampling both with enthusiasm…..
The following year Jasper returned to Bequia alone and I took him under my wing. During the day he would play “starfish” on the beach in front of the reef unless I took him to Hope Beach, and the evenings were spent eating, drinking and laughing. Jasper was extremely sweet and I enjoyed his company. He never talked much about his business interests in London but I figured interior decorating was a stressful occupation. Jasper looked wan and tired when he arrived on Bequia and glowing and rested when he left, Island life obviously agreed with him.
One year I offered to take the Wind Star’s casino manager Maggie for a tour around the Island. Jasper asked if he could tag along, he had never seen parts of the Island and wanted to know what he was missing. Together we collected Maggie at the jetty, and after introducing her to Jasper we set off towards Spring and Industry.
When we stopped at the Industry beach bar for a cold beer Maggie asked Jasper what he did in England. Before he had a chance to open his mouth I said, “Jasper’s an interior decorator”. Jasper gave me a funny look, then said, “Darling, why do you keep telling people I’m an interior decorator?” Well, obviously because I thought he was! “You’re not an interior decorator?” “No”, he replied, “I’m a fashion designer, I design clothing”. Maggie laughed and said, “I suppose you’re going to tell us that you’re Jasper Conran!”, then stopped laughing when Jasper nodded his head.
Well, this meant nothing to me. I had never heard of Jasper or his father, Sir Terrance Conran. I HAD heard of his mother, I had read a book by Shirley Conran, but Jasper and his clothing designs were far, far away from my life on Bequia. Maggie was impressed, and later informed me that my friend Jasper was quite famous.
A few years later I met up with Jasper while attending a trade show in London, he had invited me to one of his father’s restaurants called Quaglino’s. I hadn’t heard of the dining establishment, it was kind of up there with Jasper and his fashion design business. Quaglino’s was the biggest restaurant I had ever been to and very fancy – I was extremely impressed. I was further impressed the following day while shopping at Harrod’s; John Galliano of the spangled glove a la Michael Jackson was very famous too, his designs were on display at the store’s entrance.
I think one of the reasons famous people loved coming to Bequia back in the 70’s and 80’s was because people like me lived on the Island; they could be completely anonymous on the beach, at a pig roast and even at the Industry beach bar!