Limpley Stoke, Bath, England
June 6th 2024
Three reunions, based on the annual Dhahran Rugby Football Club (DRUFC) May Ball held in Dhahran every May between 1975 and 1984, have been held: originally in Limpley Stoke, Bath in June 2013 organised by Pam and Graham Vizor (Dhahran 1977-2007); the second in Tarporley, Cheshire in July 2017 organised by Jean Sullivan (nee Griffiths, Dhahran 1976-85); and the third in Hammersmith, London in September 2022, organised by Richard Thom (Dhahran 1976-80).
These reunions, called NOT The May Ball because they were not held in May(!), brought together friends who had known each other in the Kingdom, and who have kept in touch these many years. The original Dhahran Ball had been held in the Al Gosaibi Hotel, Al Khobar, then on the old Dhahran Pool Patio, before moving to the Steineke Dining Hall.
This year, we decided to return to the beautiful countryside of Limpley Stoke, where 75 friends and partners from that expatriate scene associated with the Rugby Club and Dhahran got together for a relaxed get together over June 5-7.
Many of those attending had not only attended the 2013 inaugural Not The May Ball, held at the same hotel but also the others. Consequently, there was a lot of fun and laughter as guests reminisced, not only about their time spent all those decades ago in Dhahran but of their lives since then and at the previous Not The May Balls. Lost contacts were renewed, and new friends made.
This year’s reunion was more informal than the previous events but equally relaxed and entertaining. Most attendees had travelled from all parts of the United Kingdom, but others had come from as far as the USA, Bahrain, and Spain, to meet up with old colleagues and friends.
The weather, unusually for most of this year in the UK, was very kind and allowed those who were walkers to take a gentle stroll in the surrounding countryside, while others went off to explore the world heritage City of Bath, a local bus ride away. The hotel patio and bar staff took care of those who were simply inclined to relax and chat.
The centrepiece of the reunion was a dinner on the Thursday evening. Jean Sullivan recited her traditional ode, this one called Now and Then; while Gary Neale (Dhahran 1976 - 1983) teamed up with Jean to perform their version of The Ballad of Gary and Gina (with apologies to Victoria Wood). After dinner, a disco featuring many of the hits from the 1970s and 80s kept the young at heart active.
The reunion proved once again that friends made in that small but vibrant part of Saudi Arabia all those years ago were truly friends made for life.
Pete & Julie Lewis, Harvey & Doe Jackson, John Brady, Dawn Woods, Mike & Di Wade
Graham Vizor, Sue & Martin Sang, Dorothy & Dean Culshaw, Rodger Hepburn, Liz & George Fishwick, Pam Vizor
Sarah & Peter Thacher, Isobel & Fred Vail, Janet & Bob Gibson, Carole Johnson & Mel Knotts
Mairi Lewis, Roy Bennett, Marion Westacott, Fiona Rae, Susan Sharman, Jim & Tracy Kelly
Bob & Val Stacey, Kath & Ken James, Pete Rawlins, Judy Watson, Jack Dempsey, Terry & Sue Cruickshank
Gary & Jackie Neale, Barry & Bev Reardon, Drew Campanero, Janet & Simon Radcliffe, Jean Sullivan
Judy Enright, Chrissie & Martin Rawlings, Tricia Ryan, Steven Teece, Noirin Azzouni, Richard Thom
Paula Johnstone, Mags and Mike Sullivan, Terry Farrell, Kathy Witney, Stu and Rose Crocker, Frank Johnstone
Fran Ahearne, Sue Orchard, Rhiannon Gunn, Jim & Rachel McTurk, Mike Curd, Jane Mortlock, Doodie Hough, Shona and Suheil Shahryar
Photo Credits to Richard Thom
Gallery (credits as indicated ): https://photos.app.goo.gl/2b9pbJEBPbvRp5bdA
Previous Not the May Balls:
NTMB1 June 2013 Limpley Stoke, Bath (Org : Graham and Pam Vizor, Dhahran 1977 - 2007)
NTMB2 July 2017 Tarporley, Cheshire (Org: Jean Sullivan, Dhahran 1976 - 1985)
NTMB3 September 2022 Hammersmith, London (Org: Richard Thom, Dhahran 1976 - 1980)