Our DB5 brings craftsmanship and friendship to a very significant Jamaican Villa
Our Aston Martin DB5 sat in the beautiful Jamaican villa, on the very same dark-wood writing desk where Ian Fleming created James Bond. In this moment, two versions of the same story finally met.
Arriving at GoldenEye
Arriving at GoldenEye, the first thing that struck me was the dramatic entrance to the villa – a lily pond filling a rectangular entranceway, with tall vertical reeds that towered above us, forming a privacy screen for the open doorway while still offering a tantalising glimpse of the smartly designed interior and the stunning panoramic views beyond. It was easy to understand why Ian Fleming chose this place. Standing inside GoldenEye, looking out across the Caribbean, I found myself wondering whether the world’s most famous spy writer could ever have existed anywhere else.
Inside the villa, we were greeted warmly by the staff who run and maintain it today. Concrete floors finished in polished resin extended horizontally on a cliff across lush green tropical gardens. The entrance led into the main living area, which housed the original dark-wood writing desk where Ian Fleming sat and typed his espionage adventures on his beloved Hermes 3000 typewriter. Looking left, a huge bamboo-framed sofa looked out through the open shuttered windows over the manicured lawns, tropical plants and Caribbean Sea beyond.
A doorway to the right led to the master bedroom, simply furnished with an oversized bamboo-framed bed matching the sofa, with crisp white cotton sheets, looking out through another open shuttered window, and in the corner, a second dark-wood, two-tiered writing desk looking out towards what we would soon come to enjoy – the most captivating Caribbean sunset.
A second door from the bedroom led outside to Fleming’s bathroom – a lush, tropical bathing enclosure full of palms and exotic planting that allowed the musical notes of the Jamaican birds, tree frogs and ocean waves to provide a sense of calm and tranquillity. A huge claw-foot bath beckoned, and a large chrome rain shower would have provided a much-welcome refreshing shower. In the late afternoon of our visit, the temperature and humidity, mixed with adrenaline and excitement, rendered us soaked through our carefully planned light cotton and linen evening dress.
Immediately on our arrival at Fleming’s villa, our mission was to take advantage of the exclusive opportunity we had to photograph our DB5 on the writing desks where Fleming would have sat creating James Bond. Cameras and video equipment at the ready, we each took turns positioning and posing ourselves and the model car for a photo shoot prior to the main event.
At 17.30, the moment we had been anticipating and preparing for months had arrived. The finished model was a personal achievement for James, reflecting the ultimate licensing success, years of engineering and product development, trusted collaboration with Aston Martin and EON Productions, and ultimately a presentation to GoldenEye. James had built this model himself, ensuring every screw and spoke was meticulously placed.
Our big moment: The Presentation
The first guests to arrive at the villa were the party from David Zaritsky’s GatherAll event, of which I shall write more later. GoldenEye cocktails (a mix of Blackwell Rum, pineapple juice and a squeeze of lime juice) and raspberry blinis were handed round by the villa staff as each guest stood in amazement at the spectacular surroundings. Our shining Silver Birch model shone brightly on the writing desk in the living room as we prepared for our formal presentation.
Ricardo Hewitt is the long-time and highly praised Property Manager at the estate, renowned for providing exceptional, personalised guest experiences, and he had very kindly agreed to accept our model as part of the estate’s collection. As we stood alongside our DB5, nervously anticipating Ricardo’s arrival, the significance of bringing the James Bond story full circle suddenly felt overwhelming.
An introduction was made very eloquently, as ever, by David Zaritsky, host of The Bond Experience, who had masterminded and planned the event with us. Then it was over to me to formally present our gift on behalf of Agora Models to Ricardo and the Fleming Villa. I felt incredibly nervous delivering my short but well-rehearsed speech and quickly handed over to James for a demonstration of the gadgets, working parts, and explanation of the process for authenticating the model, collaborating with both Aston Martin and EON Productions.
As we lifted the bonnet and turned on the car headlights, the tension of the presentation's formality relaxed as the excitement and delight in the model grew. Word quickly spread among the villa staff, who took turns to gather around Ricardo and the car, impressed by the quality and detail we had managed to achieve. As some of the guests were drawn to the exotic sunset and enticed by cocktails on the lush, springy lawn, James continued to recount stories of how the model came to be, how it was produced, and demonstrating the gadgets over and over as others found it impossible to be drawn away.
After the presentation ended, I found a quiet moment as I followed the steep cliff steps to a private beach below. Watching the deep orange sunset, the sea surface glistened like tiny diamonds. It was impossible not to wonder whose footsteps I was standing in and how many stories had begun here.
Bringing the Story Full Circle
The Aston Martin DB5 represents the Bond that millions of people know through the films, while GoldenEye represents the place where the character first came to life on the page. For a few hours, and hopefully for years to come, the most famous car in Bond history stood in a place where Bond himself was created. There was also a lovely symbolism in the fact that Fleming’s Bond originally drove a Bentley in the novels, yet the DB5 became the enduring visual symbol of Bond for generations of film fans. By bringing the DB5 to GoldenEye, we were connecting the literary birthplace of Bond with the cinematic icon that carried the character into global popular culture.
Standing at GoldenEye, I found myself wondering what Fleming would have made of it all. The model before us represented an Aston Martin from a film he never lived to see (Fleming died in August 1964, shortly before the Goldfinger movie was released), yet it existed because of a character he created on this very property. Perhaps he would have been surprised by the scale of Bond’s cultural footprint. But I suspect he would have appreciated the craftsmanship. After all, Bond’s world was built on an appreciation for things done well – whether a finely tailored suit, a well-made cocktail, or a beautifully engineered motorcar.
What Fleming would probably have appreciated most is not the model itself, but the fact that people are still making things because of a story he wrote 70 years ago. For a writer, that’s a remarkable legacy. The greatest compliment to a creator is not that people remember the work, but that it continues to inspire new work. And in that sense, our presentation at GoldenEye is part of the same creative chain that began when Fleming sat down at his desk overlooking the Caribbean and wrote Casino Royale.
David Zaritsky's GatherAll
Our presentation was held as part of David Zaritsky’s GatherAll event – an opportunity for Bond fans to gather together in real life, celebrating the style, culture and universe of all things related to James Bond. Sharing in the moment our model connected the books and the films at the place where James Bond was born would be a celebration for us all. Before we arrived, we didn’t quite know what to expect from a GatherAll event, and felt a little unsure about how we might fit in. Would we know enough Bond minutiae to keep up with the conversation? Would we feel overwhelmed by so much Bond talk? Who are Bond fans? Our experience revealed an event that impressed and inspired in equal measure.
The GoldenEye resort forms part of the GoldenEye estate bought by Fleming in the 1940s, but now owned by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records. The first thing that struck me on arrival was the calm and picturesque beauty of the lagoon. It was easy to understand why Ian Fleming chose this place and why David Zaritsky invites James Bond fans to gather here year after year. Before taking part in the GatherAll, I thought of it simply as a gathering of fans who shared a common interest. By the end of our stay, I understood it as something else entirely – an immensely enjoyable social opportunity, not just for James Bond fans but for anyone looking for a luxury break in an idyllic location with an opportunities for social connection and light-hearted fun.
David Zaritsky's GatherAll
Our presentation was held as part of David Zaritsky’s GatherAll event – an opportunity for Bond fans to gather together in real life, celebrating the style, culture and universe of all things related to James Bond. Sharing in the moment our model connected the books and the films at the place where James Bond was born would be a celebration for us all. Before we arrived, we didn’t quite know what to expect from a GatherAll event, and felt a little unsure about how we might fit in. Would we know enough Bond minutiae to keep up with the conversation? Would we feel overwhelmed by so much Bond talk? Who are Bond fans? Our experience revealed an event that impressed and inspired in equal measure.
The GoldenEye resort forms part of the GoldenEye estate bought by Fleming in the 1940s, but now owned by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records. The first thing that struck me on arrival was the calm and picturesque beauty of the lagoon. It was easy to understand why Ian Fleming chose this place and why David Zaritsky invites James Bond fans to gather here year after year. Before taking part in the GatherAll, I thought of it simply as a gathering of fans who shared a common interest. By the end of our stay, I understood it as something else entirely – an immensely enjoyable social opportunity, not just for James Bond fans but for anyone looking for a luxury break in an idyllic location with an opportunity for social connection and light-hearted fun.
The GoldenEye resort is set around a picturesque lagoon – a natural conservation habitat for Hawksbill sea turtles – curving towards finely raked, golden sandy beaches, with multiple small coves and pools for bathing and snorkelling. The grounds are immaculately maintained beneath a tropical canopy of almonds, mangoes, sea grape, coconut, ackee, and many other fruit bearing species. Villas are hidden privately around the lagoon, beaches, or amongst the tropical planting – some of them in the tree tops.
The view from the lagoon villas was of a flat, crystal-clear, deep-blue saltwater lagoon that gently rose and fell with the tide, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation and the constant chatter and bickering of birds in comical tones. It felt calm and peaceful, and the digital world was a galaxy away from our new reality. The open shutters allowed a cooling sea breeze to waft through, providing respite from the midday heat and creating a distinct Bond vibe, evoking scenes from the films shot on location in Jamaica. We almost felt like movie stars arriving on a James Bond set.
Surrounded by album covers and posters from Island Records’ artists tastefully adorning the beach bar, we sat in the shade with David Zaritsky to discuss plans for our presentation. We felt well looked after and reassured as David took as through the agenda for his four-day GatherAll event. GatherAll guests were invited (but not compelled or pressured) to attend any of the events David had organised, from the cocktail party at the Fleming Villa, catamaran cruise to Laughing Waters, where one of the most iconic scenes from Dr No was filmed, Beach B-B-Q at Button Beach, to a book group chat of Casino Royale under the thatch at Bizot Beach Bar.
David also quite masterfully injected a few fun missions into each day – simple games of find the golden duck, Bond figurine, or Q-The-Music Diamond – achieved by solving a mission clue. Now, if you had told us beforehand that GatherAll involved playing children’s games, we might have had second thoughts about taking part. But we discovered a new sense of fun and enjoyment that entertained us, and more importantly, brought the group together. Guests who had travelled alone enjoyed social connections. Retired couples found renewed fun, enjoyment and companionship. Young entrepreneurs found education, advice, inspiration, and connection. I have often considered what kinds of events we could organise to bring our like-minded modellers together in the real world, fostering greater social connection and opportunity. David Zaritsky had absolutely mastered the art, and I felt renewed inspiration to embark on my mission.
GatherAll is an event hosted by David Zaritsky, of The Bond Experience YouTube Channel. As part of his event in Jamaica, David organises exclusive opportunities for guests to enjoy, including a catamaran trip to Laughing Waters, the famous beach where Honey Ryder (Ursula Andres) meets James Bond (Sean Connery) in the first Bond movie, Dr No.
We were treated to a deep dive into Ian Fleming's first novel, Casino Royale, by one of GatherAll's guests, which stimulated fascinating conversation and revealed some unexpected insights into the author's literary talents.
Over the course of our stay, we met some wonderful guests with a variety of personal stories and motivations for taking part in the event. Some were Bond movie aficionados, others connoisseurs of Fleming’s work, while a few had just come along for the ride, having no prior connection to the world of James Bond. It quickly became apparent that everyone was welcome, and everyone left reinvigorated, inspired, and with hearts full of One Love.
