On arrival at the blessed air conditioned 
Mess usually required a change of dress for the ladies and ditto shirts for men.
The Messes were all very lively, popular and well supported, Mess Nights, the Ball, dances and other functions and occasional Casino Nights run by 208 (we had the kit) were all regular features. We would dance on the patio, if it wasn't too
hot, to all the latest hits of the 60s – Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys etc. The Mess even had its own home grown band – the Sin Set- we would dance to them on Saturday till the small hours. Here (above) at a Dining In night the Station Commander – addressing or – undressing – the assembled throng! [33].
MESS LIFE
There were 
naturally, the inevitable
post dinner [34] Mess Games. Here is 208 in action – and “ready – heave”! Ah Good, Victory again [35].
Here[36] are 208
doing their croupier act – the roulette table – at one such in Sharjah, the locals were doing far too 
well and the prospects for the Squadron Fund looked dire. But someone was looking after the squadron. The last turn of the wheel , with the table stacked with bets – up comes ZERO - House takes all and sighs of relief all round. Here [37] is a much more sedate looking table of Black Jack.
Just to prove 
that there were sports ,
here is a picture of 208 running well [38] – guess who is handing over the baton!
I mentioned the Souk – this picture [39] is the Bab al Bahrain, the entrance to the old souk, much as it was 40 years ago, but now surrounded by a vast modern road system, high rise banks and hotels everywhere.
