Lorna Golding (left), wife of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in animated discussion with Genevieve Berry (second left), Kayree Berry-Teape and Mark Berry.

The region's premier institution of learning, the University of the West Indies, is 60 years old, and last Wednesday celebrated the diamond jubilee with a gala banquet at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in St Andrew.

Although many had visibly wilted by the end of a far-too-long evening's programme, the event saw an august gathering of alumni from the region, as well as across the globe, where they now reside and work.

CHILDHOOD

Guest of honour, Maurice Tempelsman, who chairs the board of directors of Lazare Kaplan International Inc, gave an interesting and informative account of his childhood at Gibraltar Camp, where the Mona campus now stands. He used historic events to show how the world has progressed and how the work of the UWI is making a difference.

Here are pictorial highlights of the gala.

That's a lot of hair, gentlemen. Dwight Venner (left) and Dr Mark Figueroa are keenly interested in the contents of these documents. - Photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Joe and Janice Taffe are out to enjoy the UWI's 60th anniversary festivities.

Maurice Templesman (right), chairman of the board of directors of Lazare Kaplan International Inc, is happy to receive his award as a special honouree of the UWI from Vice-Chancellor Nigel Harris. Templesman, who was guest speaker at the gala, spent seven months of his childhood in Jamaica at the then Gibraltar Camp, now Mona campus of the UWI, as a war refugee fleeing Europe.

The Stella Maris Dance Ensemble in performance after they present the flags of the 15 sovereign states comprising the majority of the student population of the 60-year-old University of the West Indies, at the anniversary gala at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, on Wednesday, July 16.

Hon Dennis Lalor (right) receives one of two Vice-Chancellor's awards from UWI's Vice-Chancellor Nigel Harris.

Anthony Chen with Rita Chen (centre) and Lori-Ann Lyn, during cocktails at the University of the West Indies 60th anniversary gala banquet, 'Dining with the Stars', held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel last Wednesday.

The big three (from left), prime ministers Patrick Manning of Trinidad & Tobago, David Thompson of Barbados, and Bruce Golding of Jamaica engage each other's minds at the UWI's anniversary gala banquet.

Young Dr Parris Lyew Ayee (centre), with parents, Dr and Mrs Lyew-Ayee, are all part of the University of the West Indies family, and make a great picture for last Wednesday's anniversary gala banquet.