Page 127 - Personal Column (Charles Belgrave)_Neat
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for from the moment that the news was known our house was thronged
with Arab friends who came to see me. I had to sort all my papers and we
had to decide which of our many belongings, an accumulation of thirty-
one years, we wished to take home. There were farewells to be said. This
was not so difficult in the ease of the Europeans, for I hoped to see them
again, but with my Arab friends it was a distressing and melancholy
leave-taking. When Shaikh Sulman and I parted I don’t know which of
Twenty-four us was most overcome. I. was grateful to him for so many things, we knew
each other so well and we had worked together for so long, trying to
do what we thought best for Bahrain. It was very hard to say good-bye.
All things come to an end. Everybody, even the Arabs who had been opposed to me, were more
The Psalms
kind than I could possibly have imagined; I believe they were speaking
the truth when they said, when it came to the point of my leaving, that
they did not want me to go.
A fter the tempestuous times which we had passed through in 1956
ZA the political barometer showed ‘set fair’, and the spring of 1957 To dismantle and pack the contents of a large house, full of pictures,
books and china and the innumerable things which one accumulates in
Ji A was calm and uneventful. Several administrative developments
half a lifetime, was a formidable undertaking which would normally
were carried out successfully; the Shaikh’s council came into action, and
take several weeks, but it had to be done in a few days, at a time when
the Health and Education councils were reorganized with new and
Marjorie and I had so many other things to deal with. Three or four of
efficient members and soon began to play a useful rple. My own position
our friends came to the rescue and spent the days before we left packing
was a great deal easier. There were no longer demands from the Arabs
our possessions. They packed so well that when our cases reached London,
that I should go, but I had made up my mind to retire, and we planned
many months later, we found that only one piece of china was broken.
to leave Bahrain at the end of the year, although the Shaikh urged me to
Marjorie and I and our daughter-in-law left Bahrain early in the
defer my departure. He did not want anyone else as his Adviser and
morning on April 18th. In spite of the early hour a great many people,
rejected all suggestions that he should appoint a successor to myself, so it
Arabs and Europeans, came to see us off. It was a sad occasion for us. As
seemed that I would be the first and the last to occupy the post. He
we circled over Bahrain I looked out of the window of the aircraft,
approved of some departmental changes such as promoting the Director
wondering whether I would ever again see the islands where we had spent
of Customs, G. W. R. Smith, to the new post of Secretary. Perhaps
so many happy years. Dawn was breaking and I saw, dimly, far down
without realizing how much work was involved he decided that he and
below, the causeway between Manama and Muharraq, which had taken
his two sons would deal with many of the matters which I had undertaken.
me eleven years to build, the straight wide roads, the new piers, the
Assuming that there was nearly a year in which to arrange the new order
schools, which had sometimes been such a source of trouble, the hospitals,
of things, neither the Shaikh nor I made any hurried changes.
and the lights in the towns and villages, supplied by the new Power
Then once again the Shaikh’s hand was forced, but this time it was
House. I saw our home, surrounded by tall trees which I had planted, and,
not by political pressure. On April nth, after a day in hospital, I was told ♦ in the distance, the Shaikh’s white palace, and I felt a deep sadness at
by the surgeon that it was absolutely essential that I should go home leaving him, and Bahrain.
immediately for examination in a London hospital, with the possibility We arrived in London on the same night and thanks to B.O.A.C.
of having to undergo a major operation. This entirely unexpected news we were hurried through the Customs in time for a late dinner in
was a great shock to me and my family, but there was nothing for it but • London. Next morning I went to the London Clinic. I was given one
to obey the doctor’s orders. The week which followed was the most day of freedom which enabled us to see for the first time the house in
trying period which I have ever endured. In the few days which remained Kensington which we had bought in December, more or less by telephone
I tried to deal with outstanding matters, .which was, of course, impossible,
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