Hello Friends,
If you all have visited the hotel at all, you are sure you have met Teddy. If you are a repeat guest, then you will definitely know Teddy and perhaps even consider him part of your extended family!
Teddy at “his” Bar that he has been a presence at for 57 years! The Beach Bar is now officially re-named to “Teddy’s Bar.”
Scenes of Teddy including a pic of Teddy as a very young man at the Beach Bar and he has not changed too much!
Teddy Tucker has been working with Jamaica Inn for 57 years. It is on that momentous note that we celebrated Teddy with a special dedication service, naming the Beach Bar in his honor.
On Valentines Day the owners, guests of the hotel, management and invited guests all got together for a wonderful Jamaica Inn style Brunch and then headed down to the Beach Bar and Croquet Lawn to celebrate.
A Marching Band saluted Teddy
The lovely Marching Band from the Community helped to mark and celebrate the wonderful Dedication Service to Teddy.
A Marching Band was on hand to welcome Teddy and guests to the Special Event
A Marching Band proceeded the event with Teddy actually marching and Peter Morrow in tow! The guests were delighted at such a lovely sight, as well as the beautiful tropical tunes the band marched to.
Special Speeches and Commemorations
It was a beautiful sunny day for the event and Kyle Mais gave the welcome, talking about Teddy but also reading some of the fantastic and beautiful messages that has been pouring in from all over the world. At one point the service was stopped so that Teddy could speak with an Ex Prime Minister!
Kyle Mais, General Manager reading messages from around the world to Teddy at the Dedication Service.
Peter Morrow gave a wonderful dedication speech and was joined by Belinda Morrow (wife of Eric who unfortunately could not attend as he was off island.)
Belinda Morrow (left), Teddy and Peter Morrow, who gave the Dedication speech to Teddy on his special day.
The service was blessed by Reverend Kirlew from Ocho Rios. A plaque was presented to Teddy by Peter Morrow to thank him for the wonderful and loyal years of service.
Reverend Kirlew gave the blessing at the Ceremony.
After that everyone gathered at the Beach Bar to watch Teddy and Marjorie Cunningham (Sales Director of Jamaica Tourist Board) cut the red ribbon and have the Bar re-named to “Teddy’s Bar.”
Marjorie Cunningham of the Jamaica Tourist Board dropped by to help Teddy cut the ribbon.
Guests were then treated to more sounds from the Marching Band on the Croquet Lawn to which Teddy joined for some dancing!
The cocktails post Service was very fitting to Teddy – the awesome and popular “Teddy Planter’s Punch” – to which the guests enjoyed, chatted to each other and spoke of all their wonderful memories of Teddy from youth to now!
Guests enjoyed the special afternoon
We had a wonderful group of guests attending the Event – including repeat guests of the hotel who have known Teddy for many years, to members of the Community who have also known Teddy – in this picture we have Mel Tennant (aka ‘The Turtle Whisperer’), Reverend Kirlew who came over to bless the Bar, Raquel Parke, daughter of Rudi Schoenbein (past General Manager) who has known Teddy since she was a teenager and a few staff members came out to give Teddy their best!
A wonderful group of guests, including hotel guests, special friends of the hotel and the community came out to pay Teddy great respects!
It would not be an Event without Teddy dancing!
Belinda Morrow, looking lovely with Raquel Parke – longtime friend of Teddy and many repeat guests enjoying the Service.
Kyle, Teddy and guests listen to the sounds of the Band and having pictures taken by a Photographer for the local newspaper.
All in all it was a lovely and fitting tribute to a wonderful man who has given 57 years of his life to Jamaica Inn. We do hope the next time you are visiting, or if you intend to visit for the first time that you will seek out Teddy at Teddy’s Bar on the Beach!
What a wonderful tribute to a lovely man !!! We’ve had many years of great conversation, yummy drinks and fun watching Teddy dance and hearing him sing !!! We can’t wait to be sitting at Teddy ‘s Bar in May.
Monique and David Lentz
Dear Monique and David,
Teddy was honored and loved every minute of the special celebration. Of course you know he had to get in a dance too! We will pass on your message to Teddy and thank you!
What a beautiful event. John and I remember Teddy well from our past visit to The Beautiful Jamaica Inn. What an incredible Man. Jamaica Inn is so blessed to have this wonderful and dedicated man in their family. God Bless
Thank you so much Mary Ann and John!
Yes we are extremely blessed to have such a loyal, stalwart and wonderful team member here and for 57 years! We will pass your lovely message on to Teddy!
Congratulations to Teddy on his special dedication. We love his happy nature and yummy drinks. We will look forward to giving him a big hug when we see him again in December! Jamaica Inn just wouldn’t be the same without him. Gail and Ray Parker, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dear Gail and Ray,
Thank you for commenting, we will certainly pass on your message to Teddy and you are 100% right, Jamaica Inn would not be the same without him! See you December!
I love this place. Since my family is Jamaican it was home for me at the Jamaican Inn. Meeting Mr. Teddy and all the people who embraced me with love and kindness was just the icing on the cake. What a wonderful place and a wonderful respite for me. I so look forward to sitting and chatting with you Mr Teddy again. You’re the “best”. Save a spot for me at “Teddy’s Bar”. Congratulations!!
Dear Paulette,
Thank you so much for your wonderful and amazing feedback! We will pass on your beautiful sentiments to Teddy. We do hope you are able to visit us again soon, to sit down and have great times with Teddy!