Leola Cynthia Stovell was at her effervescent best the other night, and well she should have been.

Lee, as she's better known, is one of Bermuda's most creative and versatile radio and television personalities. Certainly she must be the most enduring on a day-to-day basis, being among other things Director of Advertising and Sales of the Bermuda Broadcasting Company and its ZFB and ZBM stations.

She recoils at the idea of being called a celebrity. But only such a doyenne could take over the Belmont Hills Golf Club and host so fabulously gigantic a party as she did on Saturday night.

Lee's biggest headache in arranging the party was that only 200 of her many friends, admirers and family could be invited to the bash, as that was the limit the golf club could legally accommodate.

The rather distinctive invitation that went out said: "Let's Party One More Time!"

And party everybody did.

Leola called it a celebration of 106 years of her life, being the aggregate of her 65th birthday and 41st year in broadcasting.

This writer, having the honour of proposing a toast to Leola, took the liberty of recalling just one day in her aggregate of 106 years. It was that day she showed up at our Capital Broadcasting Company's ZFB Radio and TV studios By-The-Sea on the North Shore seeking a job.

Her charm and diction accentuated her seemingly natural-born, made-for-television, attractively silhouetted avoirdupois. Our ratings became more sustainable as she filled the void when an equally charming Sally Madrid moved up the ladder after having introducing daytime TV Lingo, a version of bingo.

Lee took it to prime time at night. She became our weathergirl and an on air news presenter. However, Leola's forte was sales, and there was no stopping her over the decades.

Everything about the Saturday night celebration was fabulous. The Bermuda Limousine Service brought her to the club in style. The Warner Gombeys greeted her, and led the way for her grand entrance in the crowded hall. It was a tribute to Lee's three great-grandsons, who are the youngest members of the troupe ¿ Malik, Malachi and Raikiwan Davis.

Guests had already been shown their places by a bevy of hostesses including Valerie Dill, Kristin Denkins, Jaquel Burrows, Rachel Bailey and Tishea O'Connor. Leola finally managed to take a seat at the head table, escorted by grandsons Tyler and Peter McGlashan, Jr. They were joined by Lee's daughter Sandy and husband Peter Glashan, Sr., as well as by Lee's mother, Mabel Robin Robinson.

Mabel will be remembered from our feature a year ago titled "Mabel, Mabel Set The Table," which highlighted her 50 years in the hospitality industry, mainly at the original Belmont Manor Hotel.

Other head table guests were personalities with whom Leola has been associated in her charitable and community work. They included Dr. Melvin Bassett of the Sandys Secondary School Foundation, the Salvation Army; Bermuda Reading Centre, Hamilton Lions Club and Bermuda Cinder & Health Centre, among whom Lee's monetary gifts will be shared.

Archdeacon Andrew Doughty, Lee's parish rector, gave the invocation, and the party was put in high gear with broadcaster and journalist Patrina Paynter being the mistress of ceremonies. Malcolm (Lethal Weapon) Smith was the deejay. The performers included Gene Steede, Pulse, Toni Robinson, Salsa Dancers under Jamel Ming, liturgical dancer Lillian Robinson, SeaBreeze and the Spellbound Quartet of Gary Bean, Cal Simons, George Simons and Roy Richardson.

Arriving from the British Virgin Islands especially to pay tribute to Lee was her friend and fellow broadcaster Ilene Jackson. She is a born Bermudian with 30 years in her adopted home. Conspicuously absent were Derik (Cousin Juicy) Symonds, who was abroad for medical purposes, and Sturgis Griffin, who is chief at Government's recently opened CITV Station, who was promoting a big jazz show at the Fairmont Southampton Resort.

Our pictures show Lee (right above and centre top) making her grand entrance at the party helped by the Warner Gombeys. Below guests await her arrival. Top left: Gene Steede serenades Lee and her visiting contemporary broadcaster Ilene Jackson.