House Speaker Delroy Chuck (left) is used to having people listen keenly to him and (from second left) Overton Hutchinson, Norma Soas and Dr John Soas join the club. - Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

If a company is strong enough to be around for 100 years, then it should have some loyal customers. And many of them came out last Thursday evening to spend time with chairman of Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), Roy Hutchinson, at Devon House's Grog Shoppe. It was part of the institution's 130-year anniversary celebrations, so the big man welcomed them all to the inaugural chairman's reception, telling them they were key elements in helping the company weather the storms of the volatile economic climate.

With high member-retention, commitment to nation-building and a willingness to change in order to satisfy the 21st century customer's needs, VMBS has itself firmly embedded in Jamaica's foundations.

Well-respected

Victoria Mutual is one of Jamaica's oldest and well-respected financial institutions, with operations in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada. VMBS started with the vision to transform Jamaican savers into homeowners. The company and its subsidiaries provide a suite of financial services including wealth management, money transfer and motor insurance.

But, it wasn't a night for speeches (president Richard Powell saying only a few words himself). It was for mingling and listening to saxophonist Tafane Buchsaecab's awesome repertoire.

Red Stripe's Noel DaCosta (left) jokes with attorneys, Maurice Robinson (centre) and Ethan Sinclair.

Milton Samuda basks in the company of (from second left) Sandra Morgan, Joan Brown and Barbara Gascoigne at the VMBS Chairman's Cocktail Reception.

Former president of VMBS, Karl Wright, chats with Eleanor Jones.