Thirty seven years ago I arrived on these shores and that very first day I met Christopher (Chris) Johnson.

A week ago I was at a birthday party to
celebrate Chis' 75th birthday and his 50th year
in Cayman.

I met Chris with other fine company,
but sadly no longer with us, Norman Avis and Ken Spraggon, at the old
and also deceased Seaview Bar and Hotel on South Church Street.

As I was installed for my first two
weeks at the Seaview Hotel by Mr. Spraggon, who was in charge of the
finances at my then employer, Arch and Godfrey, it was understandable
why I had to frequent the bar.

Yes, VERY understandable.

It was also at Seaview Bar I met my
wife, Joan, but that is another story and nothing to do with Chris.
Indirectly, though, with Mr. Avis.

With only Chris now left of that trio
it was with much delight that my friendship with Chris has continued,
and as a good wine, matured and got better with age.

The party was held at his castle on the
Seven Mile Beach and there were hundreds in attendance. I looked
around for Lord Ashcroft, but his Lordship was sadly missing. It
couldn't have been Lord Ashcroft had been forgotten as his name came
up in one of the speeches there made by one of Chris' close friends.

It's no surprise Chris mixes in the
company of Lords and Ladies, especially the ladies, as Chris is a
delightful man to be with. He loves to joke and enjoy life, and
what's wrong with that?

Apparently, a lot after listening to
the 'roast, executed with great dry humour from MC, Mike Austin.

Mr. Austin had the pleasure of employing Chris, at his accountancy practice those fifty years ago and even left him in charge of his house he was renting when he left to go on vacation for a few weeks. The house was Grand Old House, now a first class restaurant. Chris soon found it was a grand place to hold his wild parties and invite his friends. Mr. Austin even allowed Chris to look after his car and Chris did that job very well, too. He even was able to tell the owner, when he arrived back at the airport the exact top speed his car could do. Chris, also, gave him the keys to his new living quarters. A one bedroom apartment on a complex that was still under construction. The owner of Grand Old House had somehow terminated Mr. Austin's lease during Chris' tenure.

We learned a lot from other speeches about Chris' unique character. Whilst studying to become an accountant he took a job to make some pocket money at a supermarket as a shelf stacker. A customer came up to him and asked if he could buy half a water melon. Chris told the customer he would check.

Chris strolled up to his supervisor and
said words to the effect that some silly ass had asked if he could
buy half of a watermelon. It was only after saying this that Chris
saw that this 'silly ass' had followed him and was now standing by
his side. Without a pause, Chris continued his report to his
supervisor with, “but this kind gentleman has offered to buy the
second half”.

I have, since writing this, been given
the complete speech of Mr. Austins and it does bare some resemblance
to what I have just written so I will not change it.

I will however, quote, this more
serious piece:

“I have the privilege of being one of
the few here this afternoon who can claim to have known Chris during
the whole fifty years since he arrived in Cayman in 1968. From my
personal experience I can tell, you will not find a kinder more
generous individual. Chris has truly made his mark in Cayman having
been the catalyst in starting numerous organizations for instance the
Sub Aqua Club, the Hockey Club, the Tennis Club, the Darts League,
the Table Tennis league, and of course the Village Greenies. The
list goes on and on and Chis should be justly proud. On the
professional side, Chris and I were Founder members of the original
Society of Professional Accountants, and of course Chris, we know,
has a long association with the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman having
served as President and also Treasurer for several years . He has,
as one would say in current vernacular, truly “Made a Difference”
or “Well done Mate” as Derek [Haynes] would say.

It was a wonderful celebration and
along with the hundreds of persons at Chris' party I echo the closing
words of Mr. Austin's roast:

“Ladies and Gentlemen please raise
your glasses in a toast to my very dear long time friend, the unique
lovable unsurpassable Christopher. Happy 50th 75th whatever. Ladies
and Gentlemen TO CHRIS”