Wordsworth Watson Celebrates 60 Years at Half Moon I
t was a sunny, yet cool Monday morning in June of 1958, when a lively and ambitious 23-year-old Wordsworth Watson donned a crisp white shirt with black pants before heading out with two others for a job interview. “Transportation was very difficult in those days,” he began. “There were two cars that drove from Montego Bay to Kingston. One was a black Caprice driven by a man called Tear Drops and he charged 10 shillings to go to Kingston. We took it. We didn’t tell him that we weren’t going to Kingston. We just paid the 30 shillings and came off at Half Moon Bay.” Prior to that life-altering day in 1958, Watson had spent four years at Montego Bay’s Gloucester House Hotel, which faced Doctor’s Cave Beach. In the 1950’s, it was marketed as, “a luxurious retreat in the world’s most exclusive beauty spot midst tropical splendour.” “It was a small property, wellstructured,” Watson remembered. “It was while I was there, I heard about Half Moon. Every Monday evening, a steel band played on the back of a truck that used to pass by and I was in the dining room when I heard it for the first time. I later asked where they were going and I was told they were on their way to the beach barbecue at Half Moon.” Watson’s interest piqued and with Half Moon’s reputation, as a nicely-sized and beautiful beachfront property in Rose Hall, at the forefront of his mind, he went to the Waiter’s Inn a popular watering hole in Montego Bay, along with two colleagues and introduced himself to David Senior, Half Moon’s dining room captain. “I asked him for a job,” Watson said with a firm nod, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. “The one David Senior told us to come back for an interview on Monday. We went and I did my interview. He took my information and told me when to start. He said he’d call the other two but I haven’t seen them since.”
THE BEGINNING It was Thursday June 5, 1958, a little more than two weeks shy of the 10th anniversary of the Windrush Migration, and Watson reported for his first day of work as a waiter. Half Moon Bay, formerly the Sunset Lodge, was purchased by 17 investors (three of which remain as owners to date) and developed into cottages and rooms on 35 acres of land fronting a crescent-shaped bay from which the hotel got its name. Half Moon, which welcomed its first guests in 1954, had only been open for four years, roughly the same length of time Watson had under his belt in the hospitality industry following his tenure at Gloucester House.
THE ART OF SERVICE While working in food and beverage, Watson honed the art of service, anticipating needs before the guests were even aware of them themselves. This, he said, left an impression on Heinz Simonitsch, who arrived at Half Moon in 1963 to manage the hotel. “In those days, the captain took the order and the waiter served. Mr. Simonitsch and his wife came for dinner and that evening, the restaurant was so busy the captain couldn’t get to their table. I went to the kitchen and carried out two appetizers, gave them two salads, two main courses and two desserts. I told the busboy, ‘when you’re giving the second cup of coffee, please call me’. “When he did, I went over and handed Mr. Simonitsch the menu. He looked at it and said that what I gave him was exactly what he would have chosen and from then onwards, he held me in high esteem.” Watson quickly became known for the high level of service he provided to guests. As such, he was always selected to be there for royalty, presidents and other high-profile visitors, showcasing the best of Half Moon, and of himself. “He has left an indelible mark. He has met queens, kings, other world leaders and celebrities of all types. Their stay was better because Mr. Watson was there before they arrived,” said Guy Steuart II, retired chairman of the Half Moon Board of directors. Watson fondly recalls the visits of cleric, anti-apartheid and human rights activist Desmond Tutu, Prince Rainier III of Monaco, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and her sister Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret when the Princess represented the Queen at Jamaica’s independence ceremony. “It was Independence and everybody’s spirit was very high. Knowing that the property had its positive reputation and she was coming here, it was a good feeling,” said Watson who was assigned to Governor-General Sir Kenneth Blackburne’s cottage, where Princess Margaret took her daily meals. Of all the guests he has met, Watson considers being selected to service the station in the restaurant where Sir Francis Moncrief Kerr-Jarrett was seated as his most memorable accomplishment. “It was the late 50’s and he was a friend of Harold Delisser who was managing director of Half Moon at the time. Mr. Delisser trusted me to take care of things. It is my earliest accomplishment because I had not been at Half Moon for very long yet, and Sir Francis ending up becoming the longest serving Custos in St. James as well as an important contributor to Montego Bay’s tourism. From then, Mr. Delisser and I built a good
“Wordsworth Watson established a foothold of a long and cherished identity with Half Moon, helping to make the resort a destination known the world over for its sincere, genuine and enduring welcomes,” said Guy Steuart III, chairman of Half Moon’s Board of Directors. relationship,” Watson noted. Watson’s passion and dedication became stronger as time passed and the years progressed. He developed a deep appreciation for the people he worked with and the property. He used his personal resources to beautify the hotel by planting trees or delivering coconuts to the restaurant and beach for guests to take as they wished.
MAKING HIS MARK “Wordsworth Watson established a foothold of a long and cherished identity with Half Moon, helping to make the resort a destination known the world over for its sincere, genuine and enduring welcomes,” said Guy Steuart III, chairman of Half Moon’s Board of Directors. It would seem that Watson and Half Moon grew alongside each other. Watson was promoted to dining room captain, assistant maître d’hôtel, restaurant and bar manager and then estate manager, a position he holds today. Meanwhile, Half Moon expanded with the acquisition of the Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed golf course in 1961, the purchase of neighbouring Colony Hotel in 1979, and the establishment of the villas in 1994. “When contractors came, I would be there to give my ideas and they respected me. When the villas were being built, I was there plotting with the surveyor, and creating the drainage systems, which eventually led to the natural development of the beautiful Sunrise Beach,” Watson noted. With a deep passion for the environment and the beautification of Jamaica, Watson blossomed in his role as Estate Manager. He now had the nickname “005” (named after his radio unit number) and was relied on by management to ensure that the grounds were operating optimally and to assist with disaster recovery initiatives. His efforts to preserve the ecosystem of the property’s wetlands, as well as the landscaping and maintenance projects he undertook contributed to recognition on the environmental
conservation front, and Green Globe certification for Half Moon. Of note, were his efforts to channel more than 100,000 gallons of treated waste water to irrigate the property; a dam that was and still is instrumental to this operation was named Watson’s Dam. Despite his move from food and beverage to the management of the estate, Wordsworth “005” Watson has kept up with a life of service and has been instrumental in the resort’s community outreach, particularly with regards to Barrett Town All Age School and the SOS Children’s Village. By the time Half Moon celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2004 it was considered one of the Caribbean’s most iconic destinations. It had been recognised globally for its awardwinning amenities and facilities. The resort is now situated on 400 acres with two miles of beachfront and renowned for its expansive and aweinspiring landscape. “I got to travel and tell my story,” Watson recalled with a smile. “I had given a speech at the opening of the Anancy Children’s Village and Mr. [Richard] Whitfield encouraged me to go to London and share my story. I had no idea what I was doing but the travel agents loved it, and they shook my hand. It was a special time for me.” In 2005, Watson was awarded ‘Hotel Worker of the Year’ by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association for his commitment to the hospitality industry, and in 2008, he was conferred Jamaica’s National Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service by GovernorGeneral Sir Kenneth Hall.
FOR THE LOVE OF THE JOB Watson, now 83 years old, is known for being an early riser, one who climbs into his golf cart at five am to inspect the property while enjoying the peaceful moments before sunrise. Each morning, the estate manager passes the West Bay Cottages, lobby, tennis courts, suites, the Fern Tree Spa, and the East Cove development that’s now underway, approaching the stretch of Sunrise Beach. He travels along the shoreline on a long and winding road, which was once the main road many Jamaicans used in the past to get from Montego Bay to Kingston. “I love my job. Half Moon is a part of me,” he said. “When I work for managers and they leave, and want to take me with them, I say ‘no, I don’t work for managers I work for Half Moon’. I dearly love the Half Moon and I love what I’m doing. “When I had finished touring the property for the first time in 1958, I said to myself, if I happen to stay in the hospitality industry, this is where I will be for the rest of my life.”
Mr. Watson knew very well and worked closely with my grandfather, Curtis Steuart, my father and me; and he’s watched my children grow to adulthood. I think of him as ubiquitous and an encyclopaedia of stories and resort happenings. He is the embodiment of loyal commitment to a profession and a passion. There isn’t one anecdote that stands out for me. Rather, I see Mr. Watson as the backing to the Half Moon tapestry. – Guy Steuart, Chairman of the Half Moon Board of Directors Upon arriving Jamaica and at Half Moon in 2015, I met Wordsworth Watson, who handed me his card and said if I needed anything, I should let him know. Not only is he a generous and willing person, he epitomises the heart of Jamaica – warm and welcoming, and I will always think of him in that light. – Sandro Fabris, General Manager of Half Moon There’s no one I’d rather have at my side when facing challenges at the hotel, whether it be hurricanes, fires or floods. Mr. Watson’s energy, determination and resourcefulness shepherd us through the worst of times to enjoy the best of times, – Richard Whitfield, Retired Managing Director of Half Moon and Chairman of the Half Moon Pension Fund Dear Watson! My heartiest congratulations having completed 60 years of dedicated service to Half Moon. The 39 years we spent together, making the best out of Half Moon were especially enjoyable and productive. Wishing you continued health, enjoyment and success! Wish I could be there and I will see you upon my return. Greetings, Simo. – Professor Heinz E.W. Simonitsch, CD Retired Managing Director of Half Moon “005”, to this day, your advice to attend those early morning meetings with “001” Mr. Simonitsch are the framework of my work ethic and fabric of how I execute my day. I know this is the success behind my career choices. I say a huge thank you, because there is never day when I face challenges, I don’t remember your words of wisdom. Thank you! Happy 60th from “99” – Racquel Brown Chief Executive Officer, St. Kitts Tourism Authority