1. Email: gdnnews@batelco.com.bh
gdn1@batelco.com.bh6 Gulf Daily News
Friday, 7th May 2010
BAHRAIN’s oldest expa-
triate club celebrated its
75th anniversary yesterday,
receiving a commemorative
plaque from Britain’s Prince
Andrew, Duke of York.
Prince Andrew handed the
plaque to British Club chair-
man Bill Frost in a ceremony
at the club, in Adliya.
It also picked up the Best
Social Club in the World
award from a representative of
British newspaper The Daily
Telegraph, who attended last
night’s anniversary celebra-
tions.
However, the club’s early
years remain shrouded in
mystery because much of its
archive was lost several years
ago.
What information is avail-
able has been amassed from the
diaries of Sir Charles Belgrave,
who established the club in
A home away
from home...
n Prince Andrew presents the plaque to Mr Frost as club general manager Peter Down looks on and, right, singer Carmel Hunter performs as Tina Turner as last night’s celebrations
1935 – originally as a golf club
– in Umm Al Hassam.
It was then renamed the
Gymkhana Club before finally
acquiring the name the British
Club around 45 years ago.
A lot has changed since 1935,
but club secretary Joan Martin
said its purpose remained the
same – providing a home away
from home for British expatri-
ates.
“Of course, we’re delight-
ed with the way the club has
grown over time, but it’s still
very much a home away from
home,” said Ms Martin.
“It’s still a fantastic place to
gather, socialise and feel like
part of a community.”
However, the club also
aims to give back to the
local community and holds
regular fundraisers, while
making yearly donations
to the Social Development
Ministry to be distributed to
charities.
It is currently going
through an overhaul with
renovations to its pool, out-
door areas and restaurant.
General manager Peter
Down paid tribute to the
club’s history, but said the
focus was now on setting the
club up for the future.
“It’s fantastic that the
club has been
around for so
long,” he said.
“It has seen
many changes
in Bahrain and
in membership
over its long
history, the
club has really
moved into the
future.”
The club
celebrated its
anniversary
last night with
around 500
guests, who
were treat-
ed to a feast
of food and
entertainment
including per-
f o r m a n c e s
from Queen,
Madonna and
Tina Turner
tribute acts.n This old photograph shows the British Club pool, but the area in the
background is now the site of its Pool Terrace and Sports Bar
n The entrance to the club in Adliya
By CHARLIE HOLDING