Scholarship created in honour of late Anegada resident

A scholarship dedicated to the late businessman Aubrey Levons will be among a long list of plans for the upcoming Anegada Family and Friends Reunion slated for July 11 to 15.

Levons – the former owner of Big Bamboo Guest House, Restaurant and Bar – passed away in November. He has been described as an ‘intricate’ part of the reunion since its inception in 2013.

“My family and I would stay at the Big Bamboo and I would have at length conversations with him (Levons) and I would just brainstorm with him because I know he was such a huge presence in Anegada and all the BVI,” event organiser, Lauri McTurner, told BVI News.

“I just wanted to feed off his knowledge of what I should bring to the reunion, and he just told me to stay positive and in years when the attendance may not be that great to continue with it,” she added.

As such, McTurner said the final day of the reunion, an all-white service at the Methodist Church in special recognition of the Anegada Family and Friends Reunion, will follow with a Special Benefit Brunch and Programme.

The event will take place at The Big Bamboo under the theme ‘A Celebration of Life’ in honour of Levons. Tickets to the event will cost $25 per person with proceeds going towards the educational scholarships.

She said they are aiming to assist two students to pursue any field of study at their educational institution of choice.

A farewell dinner and reflections will follow at the Anegada Reef Hotel.

In 2015 a similar fundraising event was held for the purchase of steel pans for the Methodist Church and McTurner said this will be one of the continued objectives going forward.

Other Activities

Meanwhile, there will be other activities on Anegada.

On Wednesday, July 11 the reunion will kick off with a welcome concert, followed by a meet-and-greet welcome party at Potters by the Sea.

On Thursday, July 12 there will be a special day trip to Virgin Gorda. A wine and cheese game night is also planned for the night at Potters by the Sea.

On Friday, July 13, a tour of Anegada in an ‘open van’, a family history presentation at the Flash of Beauty restaurant and a karaoke at Wonky Dog will bring the night to a close.

Saturday, July 14 will be a day of horseback riding at West End, an authentic Anegada buffet luncheon in The Settlement at the school courtyard, followed by an afternoon at the beach is also being planned.

Things will continue on Sunday at the Rhema Worship Tabernacle.

Changes

According to McTurner, due to circumstances beyond her control, the event was not held since 2015 and going forward it will be put on every other year.

“This way it gives family and friends the availability to attend other things during the summer or travel. So it will continue but it will be done every other year so the next one will be 2020,” she said.