Prime Minister Bustamante wedded his private secretary in a private ceremony. The chapel seated 12 persons. After the ceremony, the group left for the couple's home for an informal reception.

Published Saturday, September 8, 1962

PRIME MINISTER WEDS PRIVATE SECRETARY

-Sangster gives Miss Longbridge in marriage; Shearer is best man

-Ceremony in Roman Catholic Bishop’s private chapel

-Few guests, mostly cabinet members

The Prime Minister, the Hon Sir Alexander Bustamante, 78, was joined in wedlock yesterday morning to Miss Gladys Longbridge, 45, his private secretary, who has served in that capacity for 27 years.

Dressed in a navy blue suit cut on nattily Continental lines, the prime minister exchanged vows in the private chapel of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Jamaica, the Right Rev John J. McEleney, SJ. The chapel was part of the prelate’s residence at 21 Hopefield Avenue, St Andrew.

To the question by the officiating priest, the Rev Fr Stanley Shearer, “Will you have this woman to be thy lawful, wedded wife” Sir Alexander declared the time-honoured ceremonial answer, “I do”. He answered readily and resonantly, “Yea”.

The bride, beautifully dressed in a simple outfit of white guipure lace, said very sweetly “I do”, when asked “Wilt thou have this man to be thy lawful wedded husband”?

Senator Hugh Shearer, leader of government business in the Senate, a blood relation of the prime minister, was the best man. Mrs C.B. Wattley, a close friend of the bride, was her only attendant.

The bride was given in marriage by the Honourable Donald Sangster, minister of finance and leader of government business in the House of Representatives, and a long-time friend of the groom and bride.

To the Church

Thirteen persons altogether went with the couple to church. These included Senator V.H. Grant, attorney general, the Hon Robert Lightbourne, minister of trade and industry, the Hon J.P. Gyles, minister of agriculture and lands, the Hon Edward Seaga, minister of development and welfare, the Hon Leopold Lynch, minister of local government, the Hon L.G. Newland, minister of labour, the Hon Roy McNeil, minister of home affairs, the Hon D.C. Tavares, minister of housing, Senator Joseph McPherson, and Mrs Cleveland Lewis, MP.

Rev Father Shearer was assisted in the ceremony by Monsignor Gladstone Wilson.

The ring with which Miss Longbridge was wedded with Sir Alexander is a platinum band of exquisite craftsmanship, studded with chipped diamonds. It was bought months ago in the West End of London when they first secretly planned yesterday’s ceremony.

Sir Alexander calmly slipped the ring on his bride’s finger. Smiling, she looked at the ring and then into her husband’s eyes.

This is Miss Longbridge’s first wedding. It is believed that it is the third for Sir Alexander.

According to the 'Who’s Who, Jamaica', the prime minister was first married to Mildred Edith Black, widow, on December 12, 1910, in the Kingston Parish Church. He married again, it is said, and a certificate of the death of the wife of this union was presented to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Kingston some time ago.

Miss Longbridge is the daughter of the later Mr Frank Longbridge and his wife Rebecca of Ashton, Westmoreland. She has been treasurer of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union since 1938 and became a service of the Jamaica Labour Party in 1944, which position she still holds.

First activity

The first activity in connection with Sir Alexander’s wedding came at about 8 a.m. yesterday when several ministers of government and close friends gathered at his Tucker Avenue residence. From a quiet household with the attendants moving noiselessly about, there was laughter and low-toned conversation of friends.

Sir Alexander, who had been wearing a floral sport shirt at breakfast time, retired to his room for 15 minutes. He came out at 8:15, dressed in a navy blue suit, to welcome the guests.

The bride went to her room at 7:55.

At 8:30 Sir Alexander spoke to one or two of the guests and they moved towards the back door.

Then a voice asked: “Where are we going?” “to which Sir Alexander replied, “Twenty-one Hopefield Avenue.”

So the Ministers and several photographers who had gathered outside the yard drove to 21 Hopefield Avenue, which was of simple, old-fashioned architecture with wide lawns in front. It looked almost deserted, except for a cameraman who emerged the moment the first car drove up the path.

Welcomed to Church

No sooner had the first car - in which the prime minister sat – pulled up at the side of the house, than the Rev Fr J. Connolley came to welcome him.

Father Connolley led the group to a tiny chapel on the east side of the house.

The chapel seats only 12 persons. On the walls are little plaques of the Stations of the Cross. The star, with an ornamented wooden canopy, was decorated with pink and white asters and pink and white gladol, and lit by four candles.

At about five minutes to 9, all the guests and the bridegroom gathered inside the chapel.

A few minutes later, the officiating clergyman and his assistant entered. Then, at 9, all eyes turned toward the door nearest the altar as Sir Alexander muttered “She’s coming”.

There was no music, not even the sound of the bride’s footsteps broke the silence. The bride entered, escorted by Mr Sangster and followed by her attendant.

The bride wore a white sheath of guipure lace. A large peplum, fitted from the waist over the skirt, highlighted the outfit.

It was lined at the edge with decorative guipure lace. The blouse was close-fitting, with a boat neckline and short sleeves. A band of white  decorated the waistline. It ended in a bow to the front. The whole dress was lined with white drama. A three-strand pearl necklace adorned the neckline.

Headdress

Her headdress was a combination of three white roses set in a crown, with a short veil, which partly enveloped her face.

Her bouquet was of orchids, orange blossoms and maiden-hair fern. Along with her bouquet, the bride carried an ivory-covered missal, a gift from Bishop McEleney. She wore shoes of white pearlised leather and white jersey gloves completed the ensemble.

During the ceremony, Alexander gazed steadily at his bride. When they knelt at the altar to receive the blessing, he gently helped her to her feet.

The bride’s attendant wore a two-piece dress of blue embroidered linen. Her headdress was a blue petalled cloche. She carried a bouquet of orchids and wore white shoes.

Mr Sangster was dressed in a navy blue suit.

The best man, Mr Shearer, wore grey-brown.

After the ceremony, the bride and groom went to the desk at the side of the chapel to sign the register.

The prime minister was presented with a copy of the Holy Bible, by Monsignor Wilson, a moment after Sir Alexander had signed the register. The presentation, Monsignor Wilson said, was made on behalf of the Bishop.

At the request of several members of the group, Sir Alexander kissed the bride. He did so twice again for the benefit of eager photographers, who clicked away.

The group proceeded, after several pictures of the bride and groom were taken, to Sir Alexander’s home, where an informal reception was held.

The prime minister and his bride left the island yesterday afternoon with the official delegation to the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference in London.

 Sir Alexander, who is due to attend the 175th anniversary celebrations of Pittsburgh University on Tuesday, September 18, said that, after the celebrations, he will spend five days later between the USA and Canada, and he added “that will be part of our honeymoon”.

For feedback: contact the Editorial Department at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.