RANGERS
The prospect of “Rangers” to more exotic places was exciting but short lived. On the very first trip a very senior officer from AHQ, who had flown Hunters decided to go and check the scheme out. On arrival he managed to go off the end of the longest runway in that part of East Africa – and that was that. On a subsequent trip to deliver 4 Hunters to Amman to
replenish the Jordanian Air Force after the 6 Day War. Apart from landing at Riyadh in a sandstorm, and being fortunate to met a Saudi Air Force general in jeans who found them some fuel – went off without a hitch – but no thanks to the British Embassy staff at Jeddah.
LIFE IN BAHRAIN
What was life like in Bahrain 40 plus years ago? The weather was expletevily hot and very humid: nothing changed there and the strong northerly winds, the “Shamal” still brings the sand from the deserts of Kuwait and Iraq and turns the sky orangey-red – when it rains it usually in torrents, and everything floods.
Social life inevitably centred around the Station and the Mess. Apart from all outdoor activities. All forms of sport, swimming, sailing and water skiing, plus the rulers beach for married accompanied folk, there was not much else to do and nowhere to go. A Malcolm Club down town, a dodgy Dhow Restaurant, if you were prepared to to chance the results, and the 'Speedbird' Hotel where the BOAC crews night stopped. It was only in late '68 early '69 that the first American/European style hotel was built and opened on the North Shore of Manama, that there was anywhere of any quality to go out for an evening out and a meal.
Shopping I the Souk and the Gold Street was always fascinating, colourful and fun – bartering for everything, quite different from home. Ladies were wise to have a companion and a large heavy handbag to swing against the prospect of being approached from behind too closely! But they were allowed to drive on the own – unlike Saudi Arabia and there was 'Harry Somers' Store where we were allowed to buy booze legally. Weekend dhow trips for fishing and swimming were always very popular. But we all made our own fun and I can't remember anyone who disliked their time our there.
Arriving from Manama to the Station was always a hot and sweaty experience – in our old bangers – no air conditioned cars then! On arrival at the
