Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Stefanie McIntyre (left), formerly of Jamaica News Network, with friend Heike Wollenbedere. A host of McIntyre's friends attended a farewell party in her honour at Guardsman headquarters, Old Hope Road, last Friday.

Diplomats aren't the only ones saying goodbye to friends and colleagues, as last Friday Stefanie McIntyre, the bubbly Briton, said her ta-tas to Jamaica.

McIntyre made her name with the Jamaica News Network, where she was Ms. Everything, from producer to presenter to news writer. She leaves our homely shores for London, where she takes up a post with the prestigious Reuters News Agency. In the seemingly short time she was here, she made quite a few friends and acquaintances, both within the media and in the business sector. So, that's why the cars were parked in every conceivable location at the Guardsman Group headquarters as guests came to give her a good send-off.

Tears

Sure, there were a few tears, especially from McIntyre who, not one for speeches, said she was overwhelmed at the way many Jamaicans had opened their hearts to her. She leaves one adventure to take up another. Cheerio, luv!

Among the guests were Nadine Thomas; John Burrowes; Vinay Walia; Sonja Sutherland; Harold Brady; Wesley Salter; Miss Jamaica Universe Cindy Wright; Mark Waller; Ueli Bangerter, Dr. Wykeham McNeill and wife Sheila Benjamin-McNeill.

Left: The ladies of Guardsman (from left), Sonja Sutherland, Audrey Miller and Sheraine Murray, enjoying cocktails at Stefanie McIntyre's farewell party held at Guardsman Headquarters, Old Hope Road on Friday September 15, 2006.   Right: Wray and Nephew's Marilyn Bennett (left) gives Stefanie McIntyre a little rum to warm her on the cold London nights. Looking on is Kimani Robinson. They were hanging out at McIntyre's farewell party. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer