THIS DAY IN OUR PAST

The following events took place on March 6 in the years identified: 1946: Under favourable weather

conditions, the two-day regatta sponsored by the Royal Jamaica Yacht Club, starts in Kingston Harbour. The spacious club hall is beautifully decorated, and there is a large and enthusiastic gathering of members of the club and their friends. The six events are very keenly contested, and everything goes through with precision. Veteran yachtsmen declare that the breeze is the best for the last two decades, “so far as regatta is concerned”. The regatta will be concluded on March 8 to be followed by a dance, music for which will be provided by Byron Lewis and his orchestra. Judging from the number of reservations already made, it is anticipated that this part of the function will be one of the gayest at the club for some time. 1946: N. K. Melhado, Jamaica

Division manager of the Esso Standard Oil (Caribbean) S.A, releases the following information to the local press: “On March 1, last, the region’s office of my company, located in Havana, Cuba, instructed me to advise all employees participating in the company’s local savings plan that an additional contribution had been granted to each and every employee in the amount of $35 (£9), plus 23% of the individual contributions made in respect of the year 1945. The savings plan was voluntarily instituted five years ago by the then West India Oil Company SA as a means to encourage thrift among its employees, and that the benefits which are offered is fully appreciated is evidenced by the fact that there is a 100% participation of all eligible employees in the Jamaica office. 1953: Jamaica could see the

famous Sadler’s Wells ballet company perform if James Smith, chairman of the company and a director of the Covent Garden Royal Opera House sees the possibilities of such a show in Jamaica. He is the second son of the third Viscount Hambledon and uncle of the present Viscount. He arrives in Jamaica on a five-day holiday.

– The Gleaner Archives