Diana Clement-Holder (second right) and the members of her family. Below: Sherrie Holder (right). Londoners Duelette St Hill and her mother Hyacinth Marshall. (Picture by Nigel Browne)

SOME LEFT cold and blustery conditions back home in London.

Others took advantage of the new non-stop Delta Airlines service from Atlanta.

And all were glad to be in Barbados for the Christmas season.

Yesterday, hundreds of people touched down at the Grantley Adams International Airport to be with friends and family for the festive season.

Bear hugs, kisses and shrieks of delight were the order of the day as local families reconnected with loved ones.

Sherrie Holder, a former national basketballer and now neuro-physiologist, was one
of those who was back home with her daughter.

Now living in Atlanta, she has been making the annual trip to be with parents since she left the island on an athletics scholarship in 1998.

“I’m here for three weeks and I plan to do the beach, enjoy, get some cooked food, some home food,” she said laughing.

Holder also plans to take in some games while she is here.

“I will definitely visit some games and I always go back to the schools and see how the girls are doing and progressing because I still have a very good relationship with the coaches so if we could get our girls out there. . .,” she enthused.

Holder was full of praise for the new Delta Airlines direct flight, from Atlanta, now in its second week.

“I’m so happy it’s direct, especially when you have to travel with kids and stuff. You had to transfer to Miami and then come here; now it’s one straight flight,” Holder said.

Meanwhile, Londoner Diana Clement-Holder was her with her family of six.

“It’s very cold, windy and rainy so I’m looking forward to the sun, the beach, and all the trees,” she said.

Clement-Holder, who arrived on the Virgin Atlantic flight, will be staying with her family for the three weeks of her vacation.

Barbados is where she got married, she revealed.

Duelette St Hill and her mother Hyacinth Marshall were also glad to get away from the cold of London.

They, too, have been coming here every year for many years and their plan for their five weeks of sunshine is simple.

“To eat, drink and be merry,” said Hyacinth. (HLE)