Page 93 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

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In Beirut the President of the Lebanese Republic gave a luncheon party for His Highness ;
in Venice he was entertained by representatives of the Italian Government ; in Switzerland the
local authorities gave a parly for him in the castle of Chillon and in Paris he was the guest at
a reception at the Quay d’Orsay. In addition to official occasions he was entertained by
friends in all the countries through which he travelled and by the Bahrain Petroleum Company
in Paris who arranged for him a visit to the stables of M. de Boussac at Chantilly. While in
Switzerland he visited Geneva and heard a debate on Human Rights in the Palace of Nations.
His Highness was met on his arrival in London by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh.
During his stay he and his party occupied rooms at the Mayfair Hotel ; until June 6th he was
the guest of H.M. Government ; from June 6th until he left London on June 18th, he was the
guest of the Bahrain Petroleum Company.

During the first part of his visit in addition to being present in Westminster Abbey at the
Coronation he attended many official functions, banquets and receptions. During the latter
part of his stay he was the guest at man) official and unofficial occasions. Although most of
his time was spent in London he was able to see something of the country. He visited Oxford
and had luncheon at Lincoln College, he went to Brighton, to Three Bridges in Sussex to see
Lady Wentworth’s Arab Stud ; to garden parties at Blenheim Palace and Hatfield House, and
to Epsom for the Derby. He was present at a garden party given by the Archbishop of
Canterbury, he attended the Naval Review at Portsmouth and the Trooping of the Colour ;
he was entertained by the Bahrain students in England and visited Richmond Horse Show.
He spent most of one day on the River Thames as the guest of the Port of London Authority
and visited the Bank of England and the Mansion House. Shortly before the end of his visit
he gave an evening party at Claridges Hotel which was attended by over 300 guests, including
people who had showed hospitality to him during his stay, and many people who in the past had
been connected with Bahrain and the Persian Gulf.
He travelled back to Venice by train and by sea in S.S. Esperia to Beirut and flew from there
to Bahrain where he arrived on 26th June.
On his return he was given an outstanding reception, the festivities lasted for three days.
Apart from one short visit to Kuwait this was the first time he had been away from Bahrain
since his accession in 1942 and the first occasion on which he had visited Europe.

Obituary. In the Spring of 1953 Abdul Aziz A1 Gozaibi died in Beirut from the results of
an accident. It seems that he fell from the edge of the road on to some rocks and so lost his
life. He was ill when he went to Beirut and it was known that he was liable to attacks of
giddiness.

Abdul Aziz was the eldest of four brothers who came originally from Saudi Arabia.
During and after the first war they were among the leading merchants of Bahrain, besides
trading pearls they had an extensive business with Saudi Arabia and acted in Bahrain as
unofficial agents of His Majesty King Ibn Saud. Abdul Aziz, who received the title of Khan
Bahadur from the Government of India, took a leading part in local affairs. He was one of the
pearl merchants who supported the Government in its original efforts to improve conditions
among the pearl divers. He sat for many years on the Manama Municipal Council and was a
member of many committees. His level-headedness and realistic outlook made him a valuable
member of the community. He represented a man of the older generation whose views were
not incompatible with modern conditions. His death is a loss to Bahrain.