Great British Week 2014

BRITAIN IS GREAT

Trader Vic’s British Week St Chris. School Fish ‘n’ Chip Supper British Club John Hartson Evening GBW Mövenpick Brunch

Ritz-Carlton Reception Knowledge Event

Dilmun Club Open Day

GBW Sponsors Reception

Gentlemen’s Dinner JLR Golf Tournament

GBW Media Conference

Royal Marines Colour Band Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

GBW BBBF MINI Lunch

Lulu Hypermarket British Festival

Awali Caledonian Society Burns Supper Bahrain Rugby Club Exhibition Match

St Christopher Cathedral Songs of Praise

GBW British Music Celebration

The British School of Bahrain Poster Competition Paul Smith Diplomat MINI Brunch

Bahrain Airshow Gala Dinner

GBW Celebration Dinner

LONDON BUS

The Domain High Tea

Bahrain International Airshow Blue Water Bio Open Day

BAHRAIN

Block 338 Garden Pub Festival BSC Science Event Advanced Engineering & Innovation Conference

Main Social Culture Knowledge & Technology

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

GREAT BRITISH WEEK BAHRAIN, 15-22 JANUARY 2014

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GREAT BRITISH WEEK

The GBW Team GBW Steering Group Khalid Al Zayani (Chairman) HE the British Ambassador Iain Lindsay, OBE Russ Dixon Mark Crossey Martin Whitaker Fatema Hashem Emily Sawle Thomas Rodney Davies Betsy Mathieson Mazen Al Umran Nabeel Aljoor Afnan Al Zayani Kelly Stapleton (Secretary)

GBW Project Management

contents 4

Ambassador’s Foreword

6

Let’s Talk GREAT

8

Promoting Britain

Sportique88

HE Iain Lindsay, the United Kingdom’s ambassador to Bahrain, talks about the political relationship and the opportunities for British business.

Deputy British ambassador to the Kingdom, Russ Dixon, tells us about the aims and objectives of the GREAT British Week.

The UK Trade and Investment is the primary government organisation for the promotion of British products and services around the world.

MINI photography Phil Weymouth, Streetlight Media Co.

10

The RHM Team Publishing Director David M. Robertson Editorial queries: editor@redhousemarketing.com Contributors Elma Bartholomew, Ankita Mamgain, Maryam Toorani, James Claire, Simi Kamboj, Tony Sidgwick

Thank you to our GREAT British Week sponsors and partners

Deepening Engagement

The Royal Navy plays an important role in the protection of the waters of the Arabian Gulf from its regional base in the Kingdom.

12 Building Partnerships

The Bahrain British Business Forum is the focal point for organisations with an interest in expanding business relationships between the two countries.

Bystander Editor Anil Ravi Shankar Production Sabu Sebastian, Romeo San Miguel, Rodolfo A. Reyes Jr. Distributor Hilal Direct Services Printing Press Dar Akhbar Al Khaleej

16 GREAT British Week Events

A review of the events taking place during an action-packed week, including the Advanced Engineering and Innovation Conference.

Published by, on behalf of the British Embassy in Bahrain;

RED HOUSE MARKETING P.O. Box 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: (+973) 17 813-777, Fax: (+973) 17 813-700 Email: info@redhousemarketing.com www.bahrainthismonth.com

28 Education Is Great

Publisher and Chairman George F. Middleton Email: george@redhousemarketing.com

34 The Best of British

© Copyright Reserved 2014 The concept, content, style and design of this publication remain the exclusive property of Red House Marketing and must not be reproduced in any form whatsoever without prior written permission. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication.

However, Red House Marketing cannot accept legal responsibility for any error or omission.

•

Views expressed in this magazine by journalists and writers are not necessarily those of the publishers or the British Embassy in Bahrain.

From the British Council to St Christopher’s School and Ahlia University, we are never far from a much-treasured British education.

From motoring to fashion and engineering to the services industry, a British brand can be found everywhere we look in the Kingdom.

42 Postcards from Bahrain

Snapshots from the MINI Countryman draped in the Union Jack as this iconic car has traversed the island in the lead-up to the GREAT British Week.

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GREAT BRITISH WEEK

4 January 2014, Official Programme

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GREAT BRITISH WEEK

LET'S TALK GREAT DAVID M ROBERTSON Brand Britain takes centre stage in Bahrain this week as the Kingdom celebrates all things great about the British nation.

Russ Dixon

6 January 2014, Official Programme

For a country so steeped in tradition, Britain has never looked back when it comes to business and innovation. In fact, the juxtaposition of the old and the new permeates every aspect of British life. But we’ll see much more of modern Britain at the GREAT British Week in Bahrain with an ambitious roster of events that highlights various facets of the UK, from culture to food and innovation to education.

“Business comes first,” says Russ Dixon, deputy ambassador in Bahrain and one of the driving forces behind the event. “The event is a robust platform on which to demonstrate the commercial importance of UK and Bahrain as trading partners and Bahrain as a solid place to do business.”

The GREAT British week kicks off on January 15 at a lunch hosted by the Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF) and presided over by a VIP guest from the UK. Around 200 delegates will attend the event that’s designed around the theme of vocational training, and participants will explore ways in which partnerships can be fostered in this field.

The British Embassy has partnered with prominent individuals from the UK and Bahrain business community, British clubs, societies, churches and hotels to devise the components of the GREAT British Week.

“The idea was to have a week where all aspects of these ties are brought together and reflected,” adds Russ.

Held under the patronage of HM King Hamad, the GREAT British Week will run from January 15 to 22. The timing couldn’t be better as the week coincides with the Bahrain International Airshow, which has a strong UK presence in terms of expertise and technology. HRH The Crown Prince will officially launch GREAT British Week at the air show.

Russ concedes the embassy was overwhelmed by the support from the Bahraini and British communities and the patronage of Bahrain’s royal family in organising an event of such breadth and scale.

“Our relationship with Bahrain is an important one and in supporting this event so wholeheartedly, the royal family’s commitment really shines through,” he notes.

Celebrating History The GREAT British Week is a crucial part of the build-up to mark the 200th anniversary of bilateral ties between Bahrain and the United Kingdom, which occurs in 2016. The next two years will witness more Bahrain-UK themed events as the two sides work closely to commemorate their long relationship.

Launched in early 2012 in the run-up to the London Olympics, the GREAT campaign is the most ambitious international campaign ever designed by the UK government to showcase modern Britain.

“We’re using this branding to demonstrate what’s great about Britain to the people in Bahrain. Our longstanding and broad bilateral relationship extends to many spheres, all of which will be showcased, such as education, engineering, travel and culture,” explains Russ.

Education is probably the first rung where young Bahrainis get to engage most deeply with Britain. The British Council is showcasing UK as a destination for studies with a Knowledge conference supported by Brunel and Ahlia Universities.

“At least ten UK universities are attending the event, highlighting the potential areas of interest for Bahraini

Business is first students, which include scientific research and development, design, innovation and the growth of post-graduate courses,” says Russ. Held at the Intercontinental Regency Hotel on January 15, the event is open to the public.

Anchored by the Bahrain EDB and McLaren, the Advance Engineering and Innovation conference will train the spotlight on cutting-edge British technology in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Over 200 GCC delegates from the industry are expected to attend this event at the BIC on January 18.

Speakers from companies, such as Rolls-Royce Aerospace and McLaren, will demonstrate the technology their companies are engaged in and participants will have a chance to network and exchange ideas with like-minded people. Twelve lucky winners of a raffle draw will get to drive McLaren’s exciting 12C sports car while the company’s all-new P1 will be demonstrated on the track at the BIC. Celebrating Britain’s musical history is the Ministry of Culture, which is flying in the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra for a ‘Symphonic Rock’ performance on January 16. The performance will be a nostalgic take on the legendary British rock anthems, chart hits, and classic songs from the 1970s until the present day.

Prominent Britons who call Bahrain home, notable among them being Martin Whitaker and Betsy Mathieson, have contributed their expertise, contacts and advice in designing and coordinating this week.

British-themed events and promotions organised by clubs, supermarkets, sporting associations and hotels across Bahrain will fill the second half of GREAT British Week. These complement the main events anchored by the British Embassy, the BBBF and the British Council.

“We sent out appeals to the church, societies, clubs, hotels and supermarkets for partnership and to companies for sponsorship, and the response all across has been remarkable.

It honed our understanding of how wide and deep the relationship really is,” Russ notes.

The British government hopes the week will generate more business for the UK in Bahrain, especially in the areas of knowledge and innovation. However, the week is not just about promoting business but a genuine opportunity for the whole community to get involved in celebrating everything British.

Needless to say, the event will help raise the profile of Britain not only in Bahrain but in the region as well.

The GREAT British Week will culminate in a ‘proper’ British dinner at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa on January 22 to thank the sponsors and supporters of the week, with a UK comedian and a UK fashion show.

7

GREAT BRITISH WEEK A GREAT campaign advertisement

UK Trade and Investment works with UK-based companies to ensure their success in international markets and encourage overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice.

8 January 2014, Official Programme

In British Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates across the world, there are UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) officers who know the markets and are able to offer advice to UK businesses on everything from setting up an office and recommending local contacts to arranging trade missions and organising networking receptions for UK businesses.

The GREAT Britain campaign is the biggest ever crossgovernment, international marketing campaign. Created to maximise the economic benefits of London’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, it showcases the very best of the UK — from business to sport to culture — across the globe, highlighting support for businesses aspiring to succeed and to encourage entrepreneurial spirit. The GREAT Britain campaign demonstrates the very best of what Britain has to offer and to continue to welcome the world to visit, study and do business with the UK. There have been a number of GREAT British Weeks across the globe, focusing on the different pillars of innovation, education, fashion, sport or music. The success of these weeks has highlighted the respect and demand UK PLC commands as a brand. Whilst in Japan, fashion along with design and digital music was a key focus, in Lebanon the focus was on sport and the ‘green pillars’ — particularly football and architecture.

Markets in the Far East are increasingly interested in luxury brands, and during Vietnam’s GREAT British Week, workshops were held on accessing opportunities within Vietnam’s rapidly expanding retail sector.

Early forecasts on the financial returns from our investment in the GREAT Britain campaign are encouraging. Analysis shows that investment in the campaign to date is projected to help

xxxxx GREAT is the most ambitious ever UK marketing campaign, designed to deliver a lasting economic legacy from 2012. On the back of an amazing year, when the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee showcased the very best of Britain around the world, the GREAT campaign is promoting the UK as a fantastic place to visit, do business and study, ensuring that the UK is competing aggressively in a global marketplace - Maria Miller, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport generate around a quarter of a billion pounds for the British economy over the next two years.

Bahrain’s own GREAT British Week will officially launch on January 15, in an opening ceremony led by His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, which in itself kicks off celebrations of the bicentenary relationship. As the bilateral friendship between the UK and Kingdom of Bahrain continues to grow, GREAT British Week will highlight that Bahrain is a major trade hub, where several thousands of Brits can and do call Bahrain home and where British business can succeed.

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

Deepening Engagement xxxxx We’re planning a new headquarters at the Mina Salman port, which will be far bigger with better facilities. We are committed to Bahrain and the region

Commodore Keith Blount

SIMI KAMBOJ The British Royal Navy has patrolled the Arabian Gulf waters since the 1970s.

The year will find it further consolidating its presence in Bahrain.

10 January 2014, Official Programme

The Middle East region is important to the United Kingdom for a number of reasons. For one, it’s been the engine of the global economy for the better part of the last century. This economy is underpinned by the safe and free flow of international trade, mainly petroleum and gas products over open waterways.

“The stability of the global economy is important to us and I’d say the Royal Navy is in the region in the national interest,” says Commodore Keith Blount, commander of the UK Maritime Component Command in Bahrain.

In 2012, the UK imported over STG400 million worth of crude oil from the Middle East. The same year, almost 30 per cent of its gas imports came by sea, more than 97 per cent arriving from Qatar and Egypt.

The Royal Navy plans to make its presence in Bahrain more permanent over the coming years.

“We’re planning a new headquarters at the Mina Salman port, which will be far bigger with better facilities. We are committed to Bahrain and the region. This feels like a natural home for us; our continued presence here attests to the strong relationship between the two countries,” he says.

The Gulf region is home to a thousand maritime infrastructure installations. Further, the Strait of Hormuz witnesses ships carrying 16 to 18 million barrels of oil and at least two million barrels of petroleum products on a daily basis, accounting for about 30 per cent of the total oil movement internationally. With so much wealth transiting the area, the security of these waters is crucial for Britain and other countries around the world.

Commodore Blount has oversight of Royal Navy warships and aircraft in the region as they deliver security missions in countering piracy, terrorism and the flow of narcotics. In his capacity as deputy commander of the Combined Maritime Forces, his brief involves coordinating naval ships from over 30 nations, which support security missions.

Increased vigils along the Gulf of Aden have contained piracy to a great extent. In 2011, there were 130 incidents of pirate attacks and 20 ships were under the control of pirates off the coast of Somalia. Last year, there were only two incidents of attack.

“While the military has made a big difference, the maritime industry deserves credit in their efforts to educate ships in the precautions against pirate attacks. The private security teams that sail on ships providing the last line of defence have also been effective,” he notes.

However, there is a danger of remission; the piracy threat will be back in no time if the pressure on the pirates is relieved, the commodore believes.

A helicopter pilot by trade, Commodore Blount is in the 30th year of his naval career. He’s had three stints at the Ministry of Defence, the last one as military assistant to the vice chief of the defence staff.

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GREAT BRITISH WEEK

BBBF Board members

Building Partnerships Bahrain’s many links to the United Kingdom prompted the formation of a business group, bridging the two countries through trade and industry.

12 January 2014, Official Programme

Given the large percentage of British people living in Bahrain and the amount of business between the two counties, it’s easy to see the Bahrain British Business Forum’s (BBBF) commitment in helping to organise the GREAT British Week.

“The relationship between Bahrain and Britain goes back many, many years and the strong business links between our two countries are what make the promotion of the week so important,” notes BBBF chairman, Khalid Rashid Al Zayani.

Of particular significance is the chance to demonstrate the friendship and historical ties that have made the Kingdom of Bahrain such an important trading partner with Great Britain over the years.

“I’m delighted to see so many events taking place and, in particular, the enthusiasm with which they are being organised.

I’d like to thank His Excellency the British ambassador and his team at the British Embassy, together with the many people who are involved in this event. The ambassador’s vision in creating such a vibrant platform on which to promote such a special relationship should be highly commended,” adds Khalid.

The BBBF was formed with the purpose of uniting people who are doing business with the UK, or people who have an interest in promoting trade or industry. The forum is a place to exchange ideas and interests and to learn from each another. As well as generating business, the group offers excellent networking opportunities through the monthly meetings.

“People get together from the same business segment and create their own discussion platform. They discuss problems they have encountered and the ways in which to deal with specific issues within their field,” explains Khalid. “These concerns are often taken to the government and then resolved and ultimately make everyone’s working life smoother.”

Khalid Rashid Al Zayani

A youth-orientated sub-group has recently been created and will give the younger members a chance to put forth their energetic views and opinions. The BBBF is linked with a number of other high-profile establishments in the Kingdom, including the British Embassy which offers its premises, and even the ambassador’s home, for events.

“We have also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and work very closely with them. Our programmes are open to their membership and we are invited to their functions,” Khalid says.

The BBBF has agreed with the Economic Development Board to have a presence in their mission to the UK. In addition, prominent people from the UK, such as political figures, are regularly invited by the BBBF to Bahrain and speak at associations’ events. Almost all of the members come to events such as these to be educated from incredibly knowledgeable people in specific industries.

Other events organised by the BBBF include social occasions and fund-raising evenings for charity. One such venture is the annual trip of the Chelsea Pensioners to Bahrain for a special Poppy Ball. E Visit ww.bbbforum.org.

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GREAT BRITISH WEEK

A Tale of Two Brothers Anna Thackray

xxxxx Bahrain has inspired me to create a story; the contrasts, smells and culture are all around us; if we look closer, we can see the rich history residing seamlessly alongside the new

This British artist and Bahrain resident has been inspired by the sights and sounds around the Kingdom to launch an illustrated book to tell an age-old story.

14 January 2014, Official Programme

Finding inspiration from the island’s diverse culture, Anna Thackray creates a world of her own that follows the tale of two brothers. Awakening of Shamal: No Time to Waste is a fictional tale of good overcoming evil and how, even when we have strayed from the path of righteousness, nature will guide us back to it.

“Bahrain has inspired me to create a story. The contrasts, smells and culture are all around us; if we look closer, we can see the rich history residing seamlessly alongside the new. The variety of cultures are mixed in together in one melting pot; all I needed to do was to bring my stories to life by drawing them,” says Anna.

Although not a trained illustrator, she has a degree in fine art and has gained a following around the region for her artworks.

“Oil paint and turpentine versus pen, ink and computer software; there is an immense contrast to explore. To me this comic is a piece of art; it certainly takes much longer to create than a painting would,” she explains.

Every page contains approximately five to six large-scale illustrations, which in turn took the artist two to three weeks to create. Thanks to the strenuous research put into her work, readers can immediately notice the attention to detail that went into creating the storyline. The brothers Shamal and Samun are named after the winds that frequent the Arabian Peninsula. The name Samun means ‘poisoned wind’, a dry suffocating wind; Shamal on the other hand is the northwesterly wind which sweeps up desert sand and lasts for days on end. The family name, Sanguis, comes from the Sanskrit word for blood, making them blood brothers.

Paved with hidden messages, Anna explains that there is much more to the book than meets the eye. The artist has worked a number of concealed clues into the storyline in a bid to both challenge and captivate the reader.

The comic itself started when Anna was creating illustrations for a guidebook about the Kingdom. To get her creative juices flowing, the artist sketched a few pages of a comic book and before she knew it she was ten pages into the story.

“I think in colour and I experience Bahrain through the eyes of an artist. I am now well under way in writing and illustrating the second chapter as I continue the story,” she says.

E Visit www.desert-comic.com

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

CULTURE IS GREAT

Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra

The GREAT British Week promises a lot more than just fish and chips and English breakfast tea. Gear up as the island’s businesses, hotels, restaurants, schools and churches come together to celebrate the best of British with a series of public events.

The Big Red Bus The iconic double-decker bus from London goes around in the Kingdom throughout the week. Starting at the most unusual of locations for a press conference, the bus will continues its journey around the Kingdom stopping at various locations including schools and shopping malls.

The retro design of the iconic Routemaster has an open hopon hop-off rear end and meets the requirements for modern buses to be fully accessible.

Royal Marines Colour Band This decorated ensemble hits the Kingdom’s shores with a multitude of musical renditions. They can be seen performing from January 15 to 21, at a number of public and private functions.

Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra The Kingdom gets a taste of some classical pop symphonies, courtesy of this celebrated group. The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra performs at the National Theatre as part of the GBW, in association with the Ministry of Culture.

The orchestra is known for its versatile renditions comprising classical, light classical and popular music. Regularly seen

16 January 2014, Official Programme

working with renowned artists, recent performances include Boston Ballet at the London Coliseum, an Elgar celebration concert in his home town of Malvern and live performances to the screening of two iconic films at the Royal Albert Hall — Singin’ in the Rain and Fantasia.

The orchestra will be in Bahrain on January 16, commencing at 9pm.

The concert is based on a ‘Symphonic Rock’ programme, with legendary rock anthems, chart hits, and classic songs, featuring a line-up of classical and contemporary hits from Britain’s greatest rock and pop acts. Tickets can be bought from the Virgin Megastore.

Great Songs of Praise Join in the Songs of Praise service at St Christopher’s Cathedral on January 19. This public event is scheduled in the middle of the week and offers a delightful atmosphere and a place where you can unwind and relax, with your family, friends and colleagues.

Great British music A great supporter of community events, St Christopher’s Cathedral hosts a celebration of old and contemporary English music to mark the end of the Great British Week on January 23.

With music from all ages — Purcell to the Beatles and Elgar to One Direction — the night guarantees entertainment for all!

For more information on the Great British Week events and activities, visit www.yallabahrain.com/gbw.

GBW Culture Line When? January 15-21 Event? Royal Marines Colour Band Venue? Various Catch this military band in action at various venues during the week.

E Visit www.yallabahrain.com/gbw.

When? January 16 Event? Musical concert Venue? National Theatre A celebrated orchestra performs their classical and contemporary tunes.

E Call 17 298-777.

When? January 19 Event? Songs of praise Venue? St Christopher’s Cathedral Enjoy a fun day with your family and friends surrounded by music.

E Visit www.stchcathedral.org.

When? January 23 Event? Music festival Venue? St Christopher’s Cathedral Featuring hits by The Beatles and One Direction; it’s entertainment for all.

E Visit www.stchcathedral.org.

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

NETWORKING IS GREAT

Bahrain Science Centre

The United Kingdom is known for its high standards of education, technology and innovation. The week sees some of its principal players, showcase and share knowledge.

Knowledge event Organised by the Universities of Brunel and Ahlia in association with the British Council, this public event highlights the longstanding relationship between the two countries, particularly in the areas of research and development.

The event is an opportunity to see at first hand the some of the groundbreaking research and development being undertaken by universities in the UK. The exhibition takes place at the InterContinental Regency Hotel on January 15, from 6pm to 9.30pm.

Engineering and innovation conference A special showcase of the best of Britain’s engineering, this conference displays the country’s leading role in the automotive and aerospace industries. The event is held at the Bahrain International Circuit on January 18 and is expected to host over 200 delegates.

The invitation-only conference provides a great opportunity to see the best of British engineering and innovation, primarily in the area of motorsports. The majority of F1 teams are based in the UK and the area surrounding the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit hosts more than 3,500 small-to-medium enterprises employing over 40,000 people.

18 January 2014, Official Programme

Kids Science event An interactive session organised by the British Council in association with the Bahrain Science Centre, curious minds can perform a number of experiments in the lab and, who knows, may even teach a thing or two to the grown ups.

Aimed at children aged seven to 14, the event demonstrates British innovation to a younger generation in a way that is fun and engaging and together various strands of the British Council’s work with young people and schools in Bahrain.

There are a number of fun activities for kids, including a knowledge treasure hunt, storytelling and a photo gallery of British innovation. Outside the centre the Big Red Bus will be turned into a reading centre for kids. The science day is on January 21 and goes on all day.

Bahrain International Airshow This grand-scale public event brings some of the best British names in aeronautics and aviation. Apart from the co-organisers Farnborough International Limited being British, chief UK participants include ADS Group and Air BP. Blue Water Bio open day A company dedicated to water treatment, Bluewater Bio Middle East has undertaken a mammoth task in treating wastewater in the Kingdom at its Tubli plant. On January 23, visitors tour the site and see British expertise in action, including the Hybacs system that is ideally suited to the region and provides a sustainable platform for wastewater re-use.

GBW Knowledge Line When? January 15 Event? Knowledge event Venue? InterContinental Regency Hotel Explore research opportunities at UK universities.

E Call 17 266-166.

When? January 16-18 Event? Bahrain International Airshow Venue? Sakhir Airbase Witness the latest aeronautical technologies from the UK. E Visit www.bahraininternationalairshow.com When? January 18 Event? Advanced Engineering and Innovation Conference Venue? Bahrain International Circuit Showcase of the best in British innovation and engineering.

E Email info@yallabahrain.com.

When? January 23-24 Event? Kids science event Venue? Bahrain Science Centre Introducing great British scientists and their inventions.

E Call 17 686-466.

When? January 23 Event? Site visit Venue? Blue Water Bio, Tubli A chance to see an advanced water treatment process.

E Visit www.bluewaterbio.com.

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GREAT BRITISH WEEK The British Club

GBW Main Line When? January 12 Event? Sponsors’ reception Venue? British Embassy The week starts with a gala dinner for the event sponsors.

E Call 17 574-100.

When? January 14 Event? Media conference Venue? Ritz Carlton Members of the media are addressed by British Embassy.

E Visit www.yallabahrain.com.

When? January 15 Event? GBW launch Venue? Diplomat Radisson Blu BBBF and Mini host the event to mark the launch of GBW. E Call 17 531-666.

When? January 16 Event? Gala dinner Venue? National Museum Banquet to honour Bahrain International Airshow participants.

E Call 17 298-718.

When? January 16 Event? Gentlemen’s dinner Venue? Bahrain Rugby Club Rugby club Crusaders are welcomed with a ‘manly’ dinner.

E Call 17 695-809.

When? January 17 Event? Golf tournament Venue? Golf Club 112 players tee off at this Jaguar Land Rover sponsored event.

E Call 17 750-777.

When? January 17 Event? MINI brunch Venue? Diplomat Radisson Blu A relaxed afternoon organised by Paul Smith and MINI. E Call 17 531-666.

When? January 22 Event? Celebration dinner Venue? Diplomat Radisson Blu Gala evening with a fashion show celebrates the end of GBW. E Call 17 531-666.

When? Throughout GBW Event? The Big Red Bus Venue? Various London’s iconic red double-decker bus tours around the Kingdom.

E Visit www.yallabahrain.com/gbw.

20 January 2014, Official Programme

FAMILY CLUBS ARE GREAT Bahrain boasts a sizable and an active British expatriate community who are participating in the full spirit of the Great British Week, hosting a number of entertaining events.

The British Club hosts a dinner with guest speaker John Hartson on Thursday, January 16. A Welsh former professional footballer, John played as a striker in the Scottish Premier League for Celtic and the Premier League for Arsenal and West Ham United. He is also a survivor of testicular cancer, having been diagnosed in 2009, following his retirement from professional football in 2008. He shares his experiences from the field and the battle against cancer at the Black Tie affair.

The evening starts at 8pm and the tickets can be bought from the club reception for BD23 for members and BD25 for members’ guests.

Celebrating all things British, The Dilmun Club has designed a programme for the week, with a long line-up of fun events. Setting the mood early, the club screens classic British films and comedies in the Bullshead and poolside. The club even offers a special British menu all week.

On the 15th is the big game night, where couples can engage in a session of Mr and Mrs from 7pm. The registration is only BD2 per couple. This is followed by a British pub quiz and some tantalizing pub grub, for BD5. Great prizes to be won for both games!

The next day, January 16, is a musical night with a queen tribute act, Mercury and May, supported by local band

Machine Gun. The tickets are priced at BD15 for members and BD18 for non-members, with a British buffet included.

Friday the 17th is an Open Day, with the Great British Brunch and plenty of activities to keep the kids amused. In the evening the club holds a Race Night with stacks of cash prizes to be won. Next day, the 18th, be prepared for a picnic in the park (the tennis courts) where one can grab a hamper, drinks and a blanket and settle in to listen to local band Diraz Diraz. The teens can put their gaming skills to the test with a PS3 tournament organised by Vortex and win themselves some great prizes. The club is brimming with excitement for the week ahead and hopes to see people in some British-themed fancy attire.

Join the Bahrain Rugby and Football Club in welcoming Crusaders RFC from the UK. Born out of Edinburgh in 2008, this is a unique rugby club for players and ex-players who have either battled cancer themselves or have had family members who’ve suffered the illness.

Crusaders’ latest expedition brings them to Bahrain as part of the Great British Week celebrations, which starts with a charity dinner at the club on Thursday, January 16.

The evening features guest speakers Duncan Wilson, co-founder of the Crusaders and a former Scottish international Marcus Di Rollo along with a charity auction. The entertainment includes a live DJ. Tickets, priced at BD20, are available at reception.

After the charity dinner the previous evening, the Crusaders team takes to the field on Friday, January 17, against a Bahrain RFC Chairman’s XV. The match kicks-off at 3pm.

Give your child a GREAT BRITISH education

St Christopher’s School

offers a world-class British-International education from Nursery up to IB and A-Level Email: admissions.school@st-chris.net Tel: +973 1759 8500

An “Outstanding School” as accredited by BSME and BSO

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St Christopher’s School - the only NOT FOR PROFIT British-International School in Bahrain. All income from fees is used to run and further develop the School for the benefit of our students.

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GREAT BRITISH WEEK

GBW Social Line When? January 15-23 Event? Special British menu Venue? Trader Vic’s, The Ritz-Carlton Enjoy a number of British food favourites throughout the week.

E Call 17 580-000.

When? January 16 Event? Black tie dinner Venue? The British Club Welsh footballer John Hartson shares his football story.

E Call 17 728-245.

BRITISH GRUB IS GREAT

When? January 16-17 Event? Welcome dinner Venue? Bahrain Rugby Club Crusaders RFC are welcomed with a gala dinner and friendly match.

E Call 17 695-809.

When? January 16-22 Event? Various Venue? Dilmun Club Take part in a number of social activities organised by the club.

E Call 17 690-926.

When? January 17 Event? Gala reception Venue? The Ritz-Carlton Enjoy authentic English food and the Royal Marine Band.

E Call 17 580-000.

When? January 18 Event? High Tea Venue? Level 34, Domain Have a cuppa with your friends and a variety of gourmet snacks.

E Call 16 000-000.

When? January 18 Event? Pub fest Venue? Block 338 Sample the eclectic variety of ales and pub food on offer.

E Call 17 710-338.

When? January 18 Event? British brunch Venue? Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain Get a taste of real English breakfast at this five-star venue.

E Call 17 460-000.

When? January 19 onwards Event? Lulu British festival Venue? Lulu stores The retail outlet presents some of the best British brands on offer.

E Call 17 553-555.

When? January 20 Event? Fish and chips Venue? St Christopher’s School It’s time to have Britain’s favourite snack for supper.

E Call 17 598-604.

When? January 23 Event? Caledonian Burns supper Venue? Royal Golf Club Enjoy authentic Scottish fare.

E Call 17 750-777.

22 January 2014, Official Programme

Block 338 Restaurant & Lounge

From fish and chips to Yorkshire pudding, Sunday roasts and even haggis, the Kingdom gets a taste of the Great British food throughout the week.

Ritz-Carlton reception The hotel hosts a gala banquet on January 17 serving up the finest of British cuisine and beverages. The Royal Marines Colour Band provides the entertainment.

The Great British brunch The Swiss are entering into the spirit of entente cordiale with a British brunch on January 18. Putting away the dainty cold cuts, perforated cheese and alpine muesli, this brunch makes way for the traditional English breakfast at the Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain.

For the Scots amongst us, there may even be haggis! Enjoy this special spread served from 12.30pm-4pm.

Domain High Tea The Domain Bahrain is organising high tea at its plush restaurant Level 34 on January 18. This exquisite treat includes classic scones, gourmet sandwiches, summer puddings, rich trifles and a large variety of tea and coffee, and is priced at BD8.5++ per person. However for BD15++ per person, enjoy a premium experience which includes two glasses of sparkling wine.

The restaurant also serves a special menu during the week with favourites such as smoked mackerel, Scotch eggs, fish and chips, and porterhouse steak. Then round off your meal with Eton mess and bread and butter pudding.

Garden Pub Fest Drop in at the garden restaurant for an alfresco British surprise.

On January 18, Block 338 Restaurant & Lounge hosts a pub fest with a large variety of ales and beers, and the ever-so-popular Pimms. The restaurant will offer traditional pub fare with fish and chips and mini burgers alongside with their regular menu.

Fish and Chips supper On January 20, St Christopher’s Junior School invites you to a hearty supper of fish and chips from 4.30pm to 6.30pm. With this iconic snack and The Beatles blaring from the speakers, it certainly doesn’t get more British than this. You can even dress up as a famous Brit personality and even have your picture taken with a MINI. Tickets are priced at BD12 for families, which includes two kids and two adults, BD4 for individual adults and BD3 for children. Children below two years are allowed free entry.

Authentic flavours Trader Vic’s dons British garb as well with a special menu throughout the week. Look forward to hearty dishes from truffle beef pate, breaded shrimps, chicken and mushroom, steak and onion and cottage pies, lamb stew and of course fish and chips with mushy peas.

Be sure to indulge in the chef’s finest sticky toffee pudding. Of course, beverages are on offer for those who look forward to enjoying a delectably refreshing cider or Pimms on the terrace.

Caledonian Burns Supper Haggis lovers are invited to the Burns Supper on January 23 at the Royal Golf Club. Promising a large variety of traditional fare, the dinner starts at 7.30pm and is traditional humour from ‘north of the border’ is guaranteed.

Lulu Hypermaket British Festival Lulu Hypermarket offers shoppers some of the best UK brands, from food to household items and even electronics. All four branches of the retail outlet are packed with authentic products and brands throughout the week.

You can easily whip up a traditional British meal, such as fish and chips or Sunday roast, by choosing from classic British dishes offered in both the hot and cold food sections.

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

Conference Speakers Opening Address: Iain Lindsay OBE, British Ambassador to Bahrain Special Address: HRH Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa

When? January 18 | Event? Advanced Engineering and Innovation Conference | Venue? Bahrain International Circuit

INNOVATION IS GREAT

Keynote Address: Richard Noble OBE, Project Director for BLOODHOUND SSC Speakers: Paul MacKenzie, McLaren P1 Programme Director, McLaren Automotive Jason Sutcliffe, Marketing Director, Rolls-Royce Jim Newton, Market Development Director, McLaren Applied Technologies

Exhibitors McLaren Automotive McLaren Applied Technologies JCB Blue Water Bio BAE Systems Rolls Royce Ordnance Survey/SLRB Silverstone UTC

24 January 2014, Official Programme

Bloodhound SSC

A signature event within the Great British Week showcases British expertise in the spheres of engineering, innovation and design.

Flying the flag for the best of Britain’s engineering, the Advanced Engineering and Innovation Conference will showcase the country’s leading role in the automotive and aerospace industries.

The event at the Bahrain International Circuit is an important component of the Great British Week and over 200 delegates are expected to attend. On arrival, guests will be treated to a unique line-up of British manufactured cars, motorcycles and machinery, including Mini, Jaguar, Land Rover and Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin, Triumph and JCB. Other British exhibitors include Ordnance Survey and its Bahrain partner SLRB, McLaren Automotive, McLaren Applied Technologies, JCB, Bloodhound SSC, Blue Water Bio and the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB).

“The McLaren group of companies is a leading example of British design and engineering talent. With a strong investment from Mumtalakat in the ownership of the company, it’s fitting that McLaren is one of the companies that we spotlight during the event,” notes Martin Whitaker, managing director, Sportique 88.

Two of the Formula One Paddock lounges are being used for the event. In a Formula One pit garage below the conference halls, the McLaren Automotive team will demonstrate the company’s staggering road car products; the 12C and the all-new P1.

Alongside McLaren in an adjacent garage, students from St Christopher’s School will exhibit what they’ve achieved in

design, research and development, and production with the dynamic Formula One in Schools mini race cars.

Paul MacKenzie, programme director at McLaren Automotive, is one of the main speakers at the event. Paul will unveil the company’s latest supercar, the McLaren P1. The car will be demonstrated to guests and exhibitors on track during the morning event.

Jim Newton, the market development director at McLaren Applied Technologies will discuss the wide range of activities his company is involved in.

Jason Sutcliffe, marketing director of Rolls-Royce Aero, will illustrate the background of the company’s portfolio, its success and provide an insight into some of the latest technology the company has engaged in.

The fourth speaker, Richard Noble, OBE, is a man on a mission and that mission is to break the 1,000mph (1600km/h) barrier on land. Richard was the holder of the world record for land speed between 1983 and 1997. He is now leading the Bloodhound SSC project aimed at extending the record in 2015.

The EDB has invited around 100 delegates from a variety of businesses which have an interest in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Companies such as JCB and Atkins represent the construction industry. The Ordnance Survey and SLRB will demonstrate how satellite technology is being used to help engineers as well as the general public, with a range of mapping activities designed to extend the use of maps in ways that were inconceivable a few years ago.

E Email info@yallabahrain.com.

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

KNOWLEDGE IS GREAT

Bristol Robotics Laboratory

The United Kingdom is the second most popular international destination for higher education, with six of its universities ranking among the global top 20.

Britain has a global reputation in the field of education and its research-driven universities are recognised for the quality of their teaching and the calibre of their graduates. The British Council’s Knowledge Event on January 15 will shine a spotlight on some of the most vibrant research taking place at these universities.

“We’re very excited that the GREAT British Week has provided this opportunity to showcase UK higher education as a world leader in innovation and research in science,” says Mark Crossey, acting Director, British Council Bahrain. “The presentations we’ve selected for the Knowledge Event represent the cutting edge of UK innovation in science and the knowledge economy.”

The UK is a world leader in various sectors of research, science and innovation as the higher education sector recognises the value of international partnerships in enhancing research capabilities. Ten UK universities will participate in the Knowledge Event and concurrent sessions will run throughout the evening, from 6pm to 9.30pm at the InterContinental Regency Hotel.

The research areas below will be highlighted at the event.

Nuclear technology Professor Bob Cywinski, from the University of Huddersfield, will present a paper on an ‘Alternative Nuclear Future’, based on thorium technology in a global context.

The University of Huddersfield is at the forefront of thorium research in the UK, particularly in the development of accelerator technology for thorium-fuelled Accelerator Driven Sub-critical Reactor (ADSR) systems for power generation and waste management.

26 January 2014, Official Programme

Robotics The Robotics and Autonomous Systems at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) will be represented by Professor Alan Winfield of The West of England University. BRL is a joint research lab of the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England (UWE); with more than 150 faculty and research staff, it is one of the largest research labs dedicated to robotics and autonomous systems in the UK. In his lecture, Professor Winfield will present an overview of the research work of the BRL — which encompasses 14 research themes — and there will be illustrations with robots.

Engineering Taking about ‘High-performance Education for Engineering’, Neil Patterson, from Silverstone University Technical College (UTC), will explain the ethos behind the university.

The talk will detail how Silverstone UTC is serving the highperformance engineering and events management industries through a specialist curriculum developed in partnership with prestigious employers, such as McLaren Automotive.

Food Safety Professor Amir M Sharif, of the Brunel Business School at Brunel University, will speak about food security and supply chains. His paper will detail the research undertaken by his team Brunel as part of a global consortium to investigate and develop effective, efficient and safe food supply chains.

The research looks at the distribution of food and related food safety issues. This includes food quality and consumption behaviour and how this impacts food distribution strategies and operating models.

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

British Ambassador's Reception HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador & Bridget Lindsay hosted a reception on behalf of the Palm Association at HE's residence at the British Embassy

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GREAT BRITISH WEEK

EDUCATION IS GREAT

A British education is one of the most sought-after paths that many perceive as important to creating a better life for themselves and their families.

28 January 2014, Official Programme

Fortunately, in the Kingdom, you do not have to travel overseas to obtain a British education. From a primary school to a postgraduate degree the breadth of learning opportunities to be found in Bahrain covers the full spectrum of our academic requirements.

St Christopher’s School and The British School of Bahrain deliver an education built around the British National Curriculum within an international environment. Both schools place a premium on quality and are regularly inspected to ensure standards are not just equivalent but better than those found in the United Kingdom.

Nadeen School is a primary school with classes from prenursery through to year six. Although they follow the English curriculum, the school supplements its activities and learning with curricula from Australian and New Zealand schemes.

Another school that offers IGCSE, O-level and A-level certifications is Al Noor International School.

A prominent education institution with strong links to the UK is Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), offering education and training solutions to the financial sector through a UK university-validated Ddiploma programme. The BIBF has links with the University of Wales and Bangor University.

Postgraduate programme Ahlia University, in collaboration with Brunel University, offers a PhD Programme without residence. The two universities recently signed agreements to expand their wellestablished relationship and to work towards integration in many areas, including faculty and student exchange as well as academic research.

To date, a dozen students from around the GCC have graduated with a PhD through the programme offered by Ahlia University.

British Council Established in 1979, the British Council in Bahrain has a brief to foster educational and cultural links between Britain and the Kingdom.

The teaching centre offers English language and other training courses as well as helping students prepare for their IELTS and Cambridge English Language Exam Certificate. Rather than the traditional style of teaching, pupils are encouraged to participate in the process of learning.

The Chevening Scholarship Programme run by the British Council is a prestigious awards scheme that funds international postgraduate students who want to study in the UK.

Bringing service to life Bringing service to life

Bringing Bringing service service to life to life

Delivering essential services around the world

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Delivering Delivering essential essential services services around around thethe world world

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

Inspiring Young Minds xxxxx The highlight will be the big Red Bus and our students are already very excited at the prospect of seeing a proper double-decker bus in the school car park Ed also adds, “Not only do we have a consistently excellent record of academic success, we also offer a very fine programme of extracurricular activities, charity and service events and personal development opportunities, including overseas service, cultural, sporting and academic trips.”

For more than half a century St Christopher’s School has provided a very British education to children in Bahrain.

30 January 2014, Official Programme

Those involved with establishing St Christopher’s in 1961 could scarcely have imagined that a school with an initial roll of 30 would evolve into one of with around 2,150 pupils from approximately 70 nations at any one time. The school is now widely recognised as one of the world’s top British schools overseas, with exceptional facilities and resources.

“St Christopher’s is absolutely delighted to be involved with GREAT British Week, and is looking forward to celebrating the unique and long-standing relationship the UK has with the Kingdom of Bahrain,” notes Ed Goodwin, School Principal.

The St Chris community will celebrate with a ‘Fish n Chip’ supper; traditional fish and chips together with a children’s disco, face painting and many more attractions.

“The highlight will be the big Red Bus and our students are already very excited at the prospect of seeing a proper doubledecker bus in the school car park,” Ed continues.

An important aspect of the School is that St Christopher’s is a non-profit-making institution. Members of the Board of Governors serve in a voluntary and entirely unpaid capacity and there are no owners or shareholders. All income from fees is used to run and further develop the school for the benefit of its pupils. This is just one of many features that sets St Christopher’s apart as the premier choice for parents who need and demand the very best British-style education for their children in Bahrain.

St Chris offers a ‘British-International’ education that is firmly established in the British tradition, yet with an international outlook.

Quality matters The school has been inspected under three different regimes.

The British Schools Overseas regulations (recognised by the UK Department for Education) are equivalent to those used to inspect independent schools in England (OFSTED). The British Schools in the Middle East (BSME) has an accreditation programme, and the National Authority of Qualifications and Quality Assurance for Education and Training (QAAET – Kingdom of Bahrain) carries out inspections.

“In all three inspections we received a rating of ‘outstanding’,” notes Ed. “This is not just as an overall assessment but for every individual aspect of our performance.”

The school’s standing as a prominent overseas British school is further indicated by its inclusion in the prestigious Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference, the organisation of which all the leading UK independent schools are members. St Chris is also a member of the Independent Association of Prep Schools, which includes the top 600 leading independent UK and worldwide prep schools.

In closing Ed says, “We’re looking forward to another 50 years and beyond of providing a Great British education to the children of Bahrain, both her native citizens as well as expatriates from around the world.” E Call 17 598-500.

Fostering a GREAT Spirit One of the countries most prominent schools leads the way in celebrating all things red, white and blue.

The ‘GREAT’ British School of Bahrain might be a more apt name for The British School of Bahrain (BSB) as they immerse themselves in a celebration of all that is great and British this week. With the collective aim of promoting the strong relationship between the UK and Bahrain, the school has lined up a number of exciting events that everyone can be a part of.

In the ‘World Around Us’ lessons, infants classes will be exploring different aspects of Great Britain; in music class, pupils will learn the joys of maypole and country dancing as well as classic Great British Music Hall songs of yesteryear. These will include The Lambeth Walk and Daisy, Daisy before having a massive street party.

In the junior school, students will be completing research projects on Great Britons, the National Health Service, the Industrial Revolution, British scientists and writers. The projects will be seen as posters, forming the backdrop for a BSB GREAT British Street Party to be held later in the week.

Meanwhile, senior students will be participating in an inter-house competition on Great Britain, exploring some of the country’s best known writers and authors. A GREAT British Food Festival is another highly anticipated attraction, packed with a variety of delicious and wholesome GREAT British desserts.

Looking outwards, the school’s food technology and art students are participating in a poster competition at the GREAT British Food Festival. The event is being run throughout the week at Lulu Hypermarket, in Muharraq, in conjunction with the British Embassy. The opening ceremony begins at 6pm on January 20 and features performances of Food Glorious Food by the BSB Choir and a Shakespearean sketch on the theme of British food.

The poster competition will be judged and a winner announced. The British ambassador, Iain Lindsay, and other VIPs will be present as part of the ceremony, which members of the public are encouraged to attend.

Always game for some role play, the highlight of the week for BSB may well be the GREAT British Dress-Up Day to be held on January 21. During the day, the whole BSB community are to dress up in a quintessentially British way as a famous Briton in the red, white and blue of the Union Jack — Elton John or the Queen herself perhaps?

If you are looking for even more activities to take part in, have a look at www.greatbritainweek.com for further information on opportunities across the Kingdom during GREAT British Week.

E Call 17 610-920.

31

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

BUSINESS IS GREAT

BAE Hawk

The sponsors of the GREAT British Week speak volumes for the impact that British products and services have on our daily lives.

32 January 2014, Official Programme

The sponsors of the GREAT British Week speak volumes for the impact that British products and services have on our daily lives.

A nation that was at the forefront of the industrial revolution in the middle of the 19th century has reinvented itself to deliver world-class products and services for today’s world. A quick look through the sponsors who have contributed to the success of the GREAT British Week offers an insight into modern Britain.

In common, one might argue, with the natural tendency of the British to understate their presence, the invisible side of Britain’s balance of payments equation is very much to the fore in Bahrain. The basic ingredients on which our lives revolve, more often than not, have a British origin; the electricity and fixed line phone systems are configured to United Kingdom standards.

When we want to make a financial transaction, there’s a British bank at hand, such as Standard Chartered Bank.

Behind the scenes, the world’s financial systems rely on British Telecom, through their local partner 2Connect, for robust and reliable communications infrastructure.

We can find British Airways landing at destinations all around the globe; Cluttons has offices in more places than we might care to imagine, delivering real estate services to large organisations and individuals alike. Much of what we do today requires some form of legal assistance to make it happen, whether it’s signing off the financing of a major infrastructure project or putting pen to paper on a mobile phone contract.

Charles Russell is one of the oldest and most prominent of British legal firms.

Look around the Kingdom for a café in which to chill out for a while and you’ll find a Costa branch close at hand.

Taking flight One of the major events on the Kingdom’s business calendar is the Bahrain International Airshow. British expertise is well represented at this year’s event through the likes of RollsRoyce Aerospace and BAE Systems.

Heavyweights in the aerospace business, the impact of British skills in this industry is both visible and invisible. Bahrain Serco has provided air traffic control systems to the Kingdom and Middle East for more than 60 years.

Solid foundations Much of the infrastructure and the buildings in which we conduct business have a British influence in their construction.

Atkins Global is a market leader in the provision of engineering and design services and whose work can be seen in the likes of the Bahrain World Trade Centre.

Critical engineering design services are offered by firms such as URS and MWH Khonji to clients around the Kingdom. As concern for the environment becomes increasingly important for governments, British companies are leading the way with stateof-the-art solutions.

The wastewater treatment plant at Tubli, for example, is based around innovative technology supplied by Blue Water Bio.

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GREAT BRITISH WEEK

LUXURY CARS ARE GREAT

Jaguar XJR

While some have stood the test of time and others have faded away, there is one thing that all British motoring brands have in common — decades of history and heritage.

Rolls-Royce Arguably the world’s most prestigious brand of luxury car, Rolls-Royce has been making motor vehicles since 1906.

Under its current guise, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars blends premium German engineering with British prestige, craftsmanship and heritage to create some of the most luxurious vehicles the world has ever seen.

The current Rolls-Royce range comprises three families, the flagship Phantom, which also comes in Coupé and Drophead (convertible) Coupé versions, the Ghost, and the Wraith, which is a coupé based on the platform of the Ghost.

Bentley A direct rival to Rolls-Royce, the histories of the two great British luxury brands were once intertwined. However, the two companies went their separate ways for good in 1998 when Volkswagen Group took over the Bentley brand and BMW took on Rolls-Royce.

Whilst Rolls-Royce has always placed its entire emphasis on luxury, Bentley chose instead to combine luxury with performance, and hence has quite an illustrious motorsports history to its name. This is why Bentley is currently producing a GT3 race car version of the Continental GT. The Bentley range also boasts three families, the flagship Mulsanne, the coupé Continental GT, and the Flying Spur sedan (formerly known as the Continental Flying Spur).

34 January 2014, Official Programme

Aston Martin Aston Martin is Britain’s most prestigious sports car manufacturer, with a long history in both production cars and motor sports complemented by associations with famous icons like James Bond.

The brand is best known for creating highly luxurious grand tourers rather than extreme performance machines, so they don’t hold any records for speed or power. However, they are widely considered to be some of the most beautiful cars in the world, and enjoy an extremely passionate and dedicated following worldwide.

The current line-up comprises the sporty V8 and V12 Vantage and V12 Vantage Roadster, the V12 DB9 and DB9 Volante (convertible), and four-door Rapide S, and the flagship V12 Vanquish and Vanquish Volante.

Jaguar Jaguar is a premium British automaker of luxury sedans and sports coupés. It started life as the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922, but began to make high-performance sports cars in 1935. After becoming part of the Jaguar Land Rover Group, a large amount of investment has allowed the brand to develop new platforms and models and increase production levels. This has allowed the brand to become a serious player in the premium segments globally.

The current line-up includes the full-size XJ sedan, the midside XF sedan, the XK luxury grand tourer and cabriolet, and their latest offering, the much-lauded F-Type roadster (and soon-to-come F-Type coupé).

Each model comes in sports versions with an R and R-S model designation.

Land Rover Land Rover is the renowned British maker of off-road vehicles famous for being some of the most capable in the world. The brand currently boasts two families: one is operated under the Land Rover nametag comprising the iconic Defender, the compact LR2 and the full-size LR4; and the other is operated under the company’s luxury brand, Range Rover, which comprises the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and the Range Rover Evoque crossover. The Defender is one of the world’s most successful off-roaders, having been in constant production since 1983 and is used by private, commercial and military organisations around the world.

The Range Rover could be described as the ‘Rolls-Royce of off-roaders’, with no other vehicle in the world combining such high levels of luxury and performance both on and off the road.

McLaren Although McLaren Automotive is a relatively new creation, the racing brand was formed by Bruce McLaren in 1963. Aside from motorsports activities, McLaren have been sporadically making road cars since a joint project with Ford’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) in 1980, the McLaren M81 Mustang.

However, it was the record-breaking McLaren F1 road car, McLaren’s first wholly self-produced supercar, which really put the company on the map in the 1990s. Then, in 1999, McLaren produced a series of supercars in partnership with Mercedes, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, which ended production in 2010.

In 2003, the McLaren Group was formed by Ron Dennis, with an automotive subsidiary aimed at large-scale production of British-built sports cars incorporating McLaren’s 50 years of motorsports and supercar building expertise. The result was the McLaren MP4-12C sports car, and their latest offering, the P1 supercar.

Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, is a major shareholder in theMcLaren Automotive Group.

Aston Martin Vanquish

Triumph Motorcycles Triumph Motorcycles is the largest British manufacturer of motorcycles, producing highperformance street, touring and cruising models with high-capacity engines. It is also one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers in the UK, having been in production since 1902, with many of its classic models now being collectors’ items and showpieces.

As one of the most respected British motorcycle manufacturers, it enjoys a dedicated and loyal following, and many enthusiast clubs. Previous famous Triumph owners include Marlon Brando, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley and James Dean.

In fact, the company currently produces a special edition Triumph Bonneville T100 based on McQueen’s 650cc Triumph TR6 Trophy used in the famous wartime movie The Great Escape. The three-cylinder Triumph Rocket III’s 2,294cc engine is the largest displacement engine of any production motorcycle in the world.

The company’s most popular model is the Triumph Street Triple 675. Triumph is distributed in the Kingdom by Motorcycle World Bahrain.

MINI The original Mini wasn’t a brand in itself but a compact model produced by the British Motor Corporation, and later British Leyland and then the Rover Group. It was the first compact hatchback of its kind, with a design that proved revolutionary, and it soon became a British icon.

The compact, lightweight design and engineering proved so successful in terms of handling and performance that sporty Cooper and Cooper S versions of the car went on to win the Monte Carlo rally four years in a row, from 1964 to 1967.

Today, cars produced under the MINI brand are far different from the simple compacts of the 60s. At the very core of the brand is the same compact design, nimble handling, engaging drive and fun-loving character of its predecessors. The Cooper name has been revived to enhance the sporting heritage.

35

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

Bentley: British Heritage

Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible

Bentley Motors is the third largest R&D investor in the UK’s automotive sector and the 18th largest nationally.

E Call 17 238-822

36 January 2014, Official Programme

Ahmed Zayani & Sons are the distributors of Bentley Motors in Bahrain, having built a strong relationship with the luxury brand over the course of half a century. The Bentley showroom was first established in the Kingdom by the group in the 1960s and has provided high levels of service ever since.

“We are proud to represent some of world’s leading car manufacturers, including our stunning range of Bentley models,” says SA Amoodi, general manager of Bentley Motors Bahrain. “We firmly believe in a policy of creating customers for life, built around five core values — to be welcoming, friendly, trustworthy, inspiring and innovative.”

When asked what it is about British brands such as Bentley that has helped them to attain such high levels of luxury and quality, Amoodi replies that it is the skills, craftsmanship and heritage gained over many years of production.

“British brands are known for their dedication to excellence,” he says. “Every British car manufacturing company boasts a rich heritage spanning generations, which is regularly incorporated in the latest products and offering a real connection to the brand’s roots. By forgoing a mass production approach, Bentley has been able to bring performance and unique craftsmanship all in a luxurious package, which is tailored for individual customer needs and preference.”

Bentley Motors employs around 4,000 people in Crewe, which is home to all its operations, including design, R&D, engineering and production. The combination of fine craftsmanship, using skills that have been handed down through generations, alongside engineering expertise and cutting-edge technology is unique to UK luxury vehicle manufacturers such as Bentley.

It is also an example of high-value British manufacturing at its best. Bentley exported over £1billion of goods in 2012 to established markets such as the US, China and South America.

Bentley Factory Facts: • The Bentley Motors factory is a fully integrated site containing all aspects of car production from design, engineering, manufacture, quality, sales and marketing take place in Crewe • Bentley has had a styling studio on site since 1951 • On average 25 Continental models and four Mulsannes are built per day • It takes 104 hours to build a Continental GT, 130 hours to build a Flying Spur, and 399 hours to build a Mulsanne from start to finish • Of the 399 hours it takes to build the flagship Mulsanne, 200 of these are dedicated to crafting the interior • The steering wheel of one Mulsanne takes one person 10 feet of thread, 5 hours and 620 stitches to complete • 167 employees work in the Wood Shop; it takes four years to master every one of the 17 processes • The factory is the largest producer of the W12 engine globally; 66,537 have been built since the introduction of the Continental GT in 2003 • Every car undergoes a 500-650 point checklist before final sign off, dependent on options • More than 700 businesses supply 18,000 parts from 32 countries and six continents to Crewe — 82 suppliers are located within a 50-mile radius of the factory • The Bentley matrix grill originates from the golden era of Bentley racing in the 1920s, when it was fitted as a protective mesh stone guard • Bentley’s winged B mascot was redesigned by Tim Potts in 2006; the original was designed by Charles Sykes and first used on 6.5-litre Bentleys in the late 1920s

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

Charles Russell Party Charles Russell hosted their annual festive party for clients and a number of guests at the British Embassy Gardens

Richie, Patrick & Sonja

Reem, Maria, Fatenia & Marwa

Ernest & Francoise

Dena, David, Yvonne & David

Nahed & Zubair

Nighat, Qutub, Talal, David & Maureen

Anthony, Karen, Pamela & Zulfie

Abbas & Khairya

Ahmed & Sharif

Simon, Talal & Rushdie

37

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

FASHION IS GREAT

Topshop This brand’s cool-girl aesthetic is all about mixing up styles. With one eye on the catwalk and the other firmly on awesome street style, collections are ideal for creating an individual look!

The Al Shaya Group will showcase its collection of British brands with a special fashion show to be held during the evening of the gala dinner to close the GREAT British Week.

D

aring to mix diverse patterns, prints, textures and styles, the trendy crowd from the fashion capital can pull off any look effortlessly. The key to nailing the British style is to never look too polished. Some brands mix classic ‘50s chic with modern designs.

Dorothy Perkins Dorothy Perkins provides affordable, feminine fashion and a shopping experience customers clearly love. The brand has won numerous awards for its collections.

Wallis Wallis dresses today’s woman with distinctively designed clothes for a modern contemporary look that makes her feel confident and special, whatever the occasion.

Coast Coast designs luxurious clothing for the special occasions in your life. Offering a perfect balance of glamour, elegance and drama, the collection embodies sophistication.

Debenhams Debenhams is a leading department store brand with a proud British heritage offering customers a unique and exclusive mix of British fashion designers.

Dorothy Perkins

38 January 2014, Official Programme

Leading British brands from Al Shaya will feature in a Fashion Show at the Celebration Dinner which will be the finale of the GREAT British Week at the Radisson Hotel on Wednesday, January 22. These include the likes of River Island, Coast, Evans, Wallis, Oasis, Topshop, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge and Warehouse. Toni & Guy, hair stylists, will supply styling and make-up for models appearing in the fashion show.

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

St Christopher's School Fun Fair The St Christopher's Junior School in Saar held a fun fair at the school premises

Charlotte, Kate & Michaela

Anja & Alison

David, Bless, Henry & James

Julia, Nina, Khadija & Sama

Yasmin, Farrah & Ali

Marie, Macie, Jude & Angie

Kiran, Jan & Siobhan Eliana & Sophia

Noor & Maleehah

Charlotte, Maddie & Amy

Loshana & Sam & Jo

Allison

Jo

39

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

British Embassy Carols Evening HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador and Bridget Lindsay hosted a number of members of the British community for Christmas carols at the Embassy gardens last month. The St. Christopherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School choir performed during the event, with donations made during the evening to be donated to the Be Free Centre and the Alia for Early Intervention Centre

The school choir

Bridget Lindsay, second from left with guests

Karen, Edwin, Natasha & Nathan

Nelly, Jack, Chris & Trisha

Jessica, Sam, James & Gabin

John, Lorna & Aly

Dominic, Hannah, Michelle & Richard

40 January 2014, Official Programme

Jack, Christopher, Antony & Dana

HE Iain Lindsay with one of the singers

Sarah & Beverley

Julie & Paula

Ailsa & Louise

Anil, Urvi, Kaya & Viren

Steven & Mittie

Nickie, Sophie & Emily

Fiza, Tim & Tasmin

Rhiett, Tony, Rose & Mariella

Rick, Nick & Heather

Jemmie & Emma

Sanne, Philip, Julie, Garry & Amanda

Branding Matters There are many valuable international brands; sadly none of them are yet from the Middle East — yet!

Zain, a Middle East brand promoted on the world stage

YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF US...

Look at the lists of top 100 global brands today and you will see that 90 per cent of the world’s most valuable brands are Western.

Of the 10 per cent that are non-Western, all are East Asian.

The Middle East, with its investment in technology, tourism, real estate and destination brands, and gold standard airlines, is poised to begin exporting world-class products and servcies.

But what is required for a Middle Eastern brand to become a global power brand?

“It will take a shift in the understanding of what a brand is,” says Jasmine Montgomery, CEO of Seven Brands, an international branding and advertising agency headquartered in London with offices in Bahrain.

A brand is not a logo, nor is it a product claim; it’s an instrument for the creation of consumer or customer demand for products and services, which in turn drives revenue. Branding allows companies to command higher margins and to beat the competition. Just like any other asset it can be measured and recorded on the balance sheet.

“In the case of the world’s strongest brands, no asset is as valuable as the brand. If I owned the Coca Cola Company and gave you every asset in their portfolio but kept the brand, I would walk away with a value equal to more than 50 per cent of the market capitalisation of the company,” Jasmine explains.

“Isn’t it strange that, in the whole of human existence, a brand of an effervescent prune derivative is the world’s only truly global brand? We believe that there is no reason why the next Coca Cola shouldn’t come from the Middle East.”

E Call 36 557-077 or email jasmine@sevenbrands.mobi.

BUT YOU’VE SEEN US EVERYWHERE SEVEN BRANDS delivers world class advertising & branding for the next generation of power brands

luis@sevenbrands.mobi / +973 3655 7077

Advertising / Brand Valuation / Brand Strategy / Brand Design / Brand Environments / Digital / Culture Change WWW.SEVENBRANDS.MOBI

41

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

Postcards From Bahrain

The Central Manama souq maintains its old-world charms with a cacophony of colours, sounds, and narrow streets.

An iconic design, this MINI Countryman — draped in the Union Jack — has been whizzing around town in support of the GREAT British Week.

No one know s for sure how the Tree of Life has sustaine d itself over the centurie s; Bahrain’s ow n ‘wonder of the world’.

The arts scene is alive and well; the MINI rests alongside a ‘scene’ from the past during an art exhibition in Adliya.

42 January 2014, Official Programme

Cruising the desert e against th p backdro of the Kingdom’s highest ’, ‘mountain li.

A el b Je

Beauty meets b rawn in this enc ounter betwee the MIN n I and th e ubiqu JCB dig itous ger.

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

Poppy Ball 2013 The Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF) in conjunction with the British Business Association (BBA) hosted the Poppy Ball at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Chelsea Pensioners, Simon de Buisseret, Albert Willis & Barry Prior, were guests of honour at the annual event held in memory of the millions who have lost their lives in war

Dena, Ibrahim Kooheji, Simon de Buisseret, Khalid Al Zayani, Barry Prior, Linda, Albert Willis, Mona & Priya at the Crowne Plaza Bahrain

Garfield, Ron, HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador, Bridget Lindsay, Stuart & Simon

Margaret, Trish, Ken, Pauline & Rog

Simon de Buisseret & Khalid Al Zayani

Stephen, Paul, Erica & Lucy

Alan with Kostantinos Pallikaropoulos

Garfield, Ibrahim Kooheji & Ron

Julie, Angela & Lisa

Khalid Al Zayani & Sana

Rodney & Michelle

Michaela & Hussain

David

Joy, Paul & Joy

Barry Prior & Yvonne Trueman

Dena & Nicki

Geoff & Sylvia

Julia & Ron

Michelle, Laura, Emma & Hilory

Panos & Doris

Stuart & Ashley

Julia & Gill

Austin

43

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

Postcards From Bahrain

The stack at the GPIC petrochemical complex is a landmark in its own right.

Sponsors of the GREAT British Week got into the spirit of the occasion with a visit by the MINI to their premises.

What does an exhausted M INI do to revive itself?

Grab a Costa, of co urse!

to cook up ck Hotel aim the Mรถvenpi at s ef gs. ch in e m Th l the trim kfast with al a British brea

Staff at The Ritz-Carlton see double as the MIN I twins gear up for a reception featuring th e Royal Mar ines Band.

yond

ds well be tish Council exten The work of the Bri s. se mi n pre the walls of its ow

44 January 2014, Official Programme

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

GREAT British Week 2014 Launch HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador & Khalid Al Zayani, Chairman of the Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF), hosted a media conference at the British Embassy in Manama to launch GREAT British Week

Rodney Davies, Martin Whitaker, Dr Dhafer Al Umran, Betsy B. Mathieson, Khalid Al Zayani, HE Iain Lindsay & Russ Dixon

Nasser, Austin, Dena & Nancy

Anne & Heather

Dr Abdulrahman Sultan & Zayed R. Alzayani

Austin, Steve & David

Paula & Steve

Panos, Debbie & Tony

Taher & Frances

Fatima & Suma

Investing for Future Generations Mumtalakat’s vision as the investment arm of the Kingdom of Bahrain, is to grow the wealth of Bahrain.

With over 35 investments within its portfolio, Mumtalakat’s investment strategy is to drive value creation in the strategic non-oil and non-gas related assets of Bahrain, build a well diversified and balanced portfolio and position itself to achieve long-term, sustainable financial returns.

MUMTALAKAT: INVESTING FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

www.bmhc.bh

45

GREAT BRITISH WEEK

Building on History xxxxx Bahrain is an ideal platform from which international businesses can access the US$1.5 trillion Gulf market countries, and the significant contribution made by UK companies in advancing key sectors such as engineering, automotive, aerospace and advanced technologies,” said Kamal bin Ahmed, acting chief executive of the EDB. “Bahrain is an ideal platform from which international businesses can access the US$1.5 trillion Gulf market. We look forward to welcoming more British companies to Bahrain and are committed to doing what we can to help them to establish their regional operations in the Kingdom.”

With 25 British companies operating in Bahrain, including such names as Ernst & Young, McLaren Automotive, and Standard Chartered Bank, as well as over US$400 million of bilateral trade seen in 2011 alone, there are many key opportunities for British companies to invest in the Kingdom.

Bahrain and Britain are increasingly strengthening trade ties to forge a closer business relationship over the coming years.

46 January 2014, Official Programme

The events packed into the GREAT British Week are both a celebration of almost 200 years of bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and Bahrain, and a platform to build on the strong economic links between the two countries.

Bahrain and Britain have had a longstanding relationship dating back to 1816, when the first treaty between the countries was first signed. Since independence from Britain in 1971, the two nations have maintained a strong relationship, with many cultural collaborations and economic cooperation.

Around 7,000 Britons work in Bahrain today, making it the largest European community of expatriates in the Kingdom.

“We’re delighted to be supporting this important event to further highlight the strong relations between our two

The EDB’s Role The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) is a dynamic public agency with an overall responsibility for attracting inward investment into Bahrain, and is targetting economic sectors where the Kingdom offers significant strengths.

Key areas of focus include manufacturing, ICT, and logistics and transport services as well as other sub-sectors. The financial services sector in Bahrain is particularly strong and the EDB supports the continuing growth of the banking industry and key sub-sectors, including Islamic finance, asset management, insurance and re-insurance.

The EDB had very positive indicators in 2013, with many new businesses being established in the Kingdom across a range of different sectors that helped drive continued and stable economic growth.

Then, there were some key economic and commercial events taking place, such as the Formula One and the annual Spring of Culture. Furthermore, the EDB participated in road shows to the UK, USA, Germany, India, China and Japan and led delegations to North America, Europe and Asia for events such as the World Economic Forums and IMF / World Bank meeting.

GREAT British Week along with the Bahrain International Airshow also taking place this week help maintain the momentum and provide a platform for the EDB to re-engage with some of the potential investors, to keep Bahrain in the global spotlight and to remind people of the opportunity the Gulf region presents from an investment perspective.

Bahrain’s Economy The Kingdom is strategically located on important trade routes in the northern Gulf and as a result it has developed a sophisticated, modern infrastructure for channelling trade flows across the region. In particular, Bahrain is uniquely positioned as the natural gateway to the GCC region. The Gulf is a sizeable economy; the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) now comprise a market worth US$1.5 trillion.

This is a market that the Economist Intelligence Unit has predicted will grow to US$2 trillion by 2020.

In 2012, Bahrain attracted US$891m worth of foreign direct investment (FDI), a 14 per cent increase over 2011. These FDI inflows were equal to 3.4 per cent of Bahrain’s nominal GDP, the highest percentage in the GCC. The most important element of FDI were the profits reinvested by foreign companies active in Bahrain and this may partly be linked to the high rate of return on foreign direct investments in Bahrain, which, according to UNCTAD estimates, reached 50 per cent in 2012, the second highest rate in the world.

The past two years have shown that Bahrain’s business fundamentals are strong and economic stability is secure. The Kingdom achieved overall GDP growth of 3.4 per cent in 2012 and, according to EDB estimates, the overall growth in 2013 hovered around 5 per cent.

Growth is set to stabilise to around four per cent in 2014, but the contribution of the non-oil sector is set to increase significantly due to the prospect of a large increase in project spending. A number of significant undertakings, whether funded locally or from the GCC Development Fund, are either starting or about to be launched. This move should in turn have significant positive implications for activity in a number of other sectors, for business and consumer confidence, and for bank credit growth.

In order to maintain long-term growth and opportunities for all Bahrainis, the government is committed to sustaining and strengthening the core business proposition which relies on a highly skilled workforce, competitive operating costs, stable and transparent regulation, an open business environment and sustainable growth.

Another important factor for potential investors is that Bahrain permits 100 per cent foreign ownership of companies across all sectors and without restrictions, such as ring fencing within ‘free zones’. Similar industries can set up in one of a number of industrial and commercial parks, clustering to share facilities, but there is no onshore versus offshore differential.

In the coming years, Bahrain will continue to invest in core infrastructure, and strengthening the pan-GCC transport links.

The Kingdom already has a vibrant port, located close to the airport, which will be expanded, and is moving forward with the wider GCC community in the development of a rail network. All this helps companies to easily move their goods and services across the GCC and beyond, and provides clear opportunities for British companies seeking to access the rapidly expanding regional economies.

GCC Economic Outlook The past year will likely go down in history as a year of relative consolidation for the GCC economies, a time when, following a period of exceptionally rapid growth, the regional economies

experienced something of a slower growth rate. For instance, the IMF projection for aggregate real GDP growth for the region as a whole in 2013 was 3.7 per cent — below the 7.7 per cent and 5.2 per cent pace of expansion seen in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Those rapid advances, however, were to a large extent due to temporary factors, most notably increased oil production and prices along with sharp rises in counter-cyclical government spending.

2014 is likely to see the pendulum begin to swing in the opposite direction again with the IMF foreseeing 4.1 per cent growth. The retrenchment in the regional oil sector began to be reversed in the second half of the year and it looks like some production gains will likely materialise in 2014. At the same time, government spending should continue to expand throughout the region, even if the pace of the absolute increments will be fairly modest by historical standards.

Private sector growth is likely to remain strong. Most indicators of consumer and business confidence are at historically high levels, in part thanks to successful efforts by regional companies and governments to address risks and structural weaknesses. The likelihood of significant disruptions to economic activity now looks fairly minimal and most regional sovereigns and corporates are continuing to overhaul their finances in a generally benign market environment.

The regional banking sector remains highly liquid and more robust due to regulatory reforms adopted in recent years. A substantial infrastructure pipeline will continue to support activity with a number of linkages to the rest of the economy.

The impact of key events such as Dubai’s World Expo 2020 and Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 is further boosting confidence.

Overall, there’s no doubt that the time is right for British companies to look at accessing growth opportunities that exist in the region in a wide range of sectors, and Bahrain is the ideal location from which to establish regional operations.

For more information, visit www.bahrainedb.com.

47

GREAT BRITISH WEEK No sex please, we’re British!

BRITS ARE GREAT...

JAMES CLAIRE I can forgive people many things, being British among them. I hope that does not sound too harsh, some of my best friends are British — on Facebook that is. I would never admit to any in real life!

48 January 2014, Official Programme

A few of my bosses are British. Wonderful chaps. After six years I’m still awaiting to hear a “Thank you, old sport” or “Job well done, chap” from any of them. But they’re British, I can forgive them for a lot.

Being Australian is possibly the worst thing to be when one’s bosses are from the motherland. We are, after all, the progeny of prisoners that they sent to the Antipodes so they could forget us, and to ‘uncrowd’ their burgeoning prisons several 100 years ago. Basically I am a daily reminder of their past and how successful us prisoners made it in the New World. I think they wish they had come, too. It doesn’t rain so much down under.

Growing up in Australia allowed us an opportunity to travel to the Great British Isles and to work there for two years under visa rules of the time. Stay a day late and you were surreptitiously relabelled a convict and shipped home. I stayed just upon the granted time and was so in love with all things British by then; all I wanted for the next decade was to return.

Thankfully that wore off once I began to see other countries, especially those where the British had not invaded, plundered and inflicted their beliefs, rule and parliamentary system upon.

I Love Cuba!

I surely jest though. I love the Brits and their …ummh! Let me start that again.

British are wondrous folk. If it were not for the British we would not have pie and peas, fruitcake, Yorkshire pudding and apple crumble. If it were not for the British, Singapore would

not have an amazing cricket club.

Britain has given us great comedy. If any country can look at themselves and see what funny chaps they are, it’s surely the Brits. Fawlty Towers, Dad’s Army and Only Fools and Horses are some of the funniest shows around.

All of them decades old, but that’s the British way. They love everything vintage and antique. Shows on television today will be popular 40 years from now.

Antiques Roadshow is the perfect example of a show which never ages in England.

When I first travelled to London my father reminded me to enjoy the great leaps forward in consumerism and technology that Britain was renowned for. He wanted me to go to HMV and enjoy music like it should sound. Lucky I did because they went broke a few years later.

Sadly, Great Britain has seen a number of lost battles of late.

Jaguar and Land Rover are now in the hands of the India’s Tata Motors. Cadbury Chocolates has been swallowed by Kraft Foods of America. Harrods is run by the Qataris. Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and The Savoy are all famed British brands owned by Canadians.

To those British amongst us, forgive my flippancy and humour this month. I truly do love you all, and appreciate the British additions to our lives — warm beer, beef Wellington, sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, tea with cookies, and Lady Diana. I truly hope to connect with a few more of you… on Facebook, though!