New Chieftain - Mr Gordon Moir.

Wha's like us??

Steeped in 8000 years of dramatic history marked by invasions and independence, wars and religious upheavals, intrigues and subjugation, Scotland is a land of unique culture and immense national pride.
In days gone by, the Scots were renowned as a nation of fearsome warriors and while the weapons of war may have been cast aside, the Scottish determination to make a mark on society shines through to this day. Since before the Industrial Revolution, Scots have been at the forefront of innovation and discovery across a wide range of spheres: the steam engine, the bicycle, tarmacadam roads, the telephone, television, the transistor, the motion picture, penicillin, electromagnetics, radar, insulin and calculus are only a few of the most significant products of Scottish ingenuity.
Amazingly, for a country whose population has never been much in excess of 5 million, native Scots or those descended directly from them have been the recipients of some 11% of all the Nobel Prizes that have been awarded. While many Scots may now be living outside their native borders, two things remain with them at all times – a determination to succeed and a passion for all things Scottish. That passion is so strong that they will go out of their way to promote their culture and to encourage anyone and everyone to learn to appreciate it to!

In Bahrain, that role is proudly taken on by the Bahrain Caledonian Society whose goals are to promote and preserve the unique and exciting culture of Scotland and to foster harmonious relationships with all other societies. In doing so, the society also raises money for local charities.

The Callys have traditionally hosted two main events each year, the St Andrew’s Ball in November, in honour of Scotland’s patron saint and the Burns Supper in January, in honour of Scotland’s favourite poet, Robert Burns. While the Burns Supper has a slightly more traditional air to it, both events centre around a common theme – a good dinner and plenty of Scottish dancing, and while the overall aim to have some fun, there is a more serious side to the events too. With the generous support of sponsors such as EK Kanoo, British Airways and BMMI, together with the generosity of its members, the society is able to raise money for donations to local charities and good causes. During the last year, over BD5000 worth of donations have been made to a variety of local charities and needy casues.

In 2004, a new event was introduced in conjunction with the Irish Society and the Bahrain Rugby Club. Timed to coincide with the inaugural Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Bahrain Gaelic Festival was held on the rugby Club grounds in April. The day was a resounding success, with 8 local teams competing against one another in events based around a mix of traditional Scottish highland games and Gaelic football. In fact, so much fun was had that the Bahrain Gaelic Festival has become an annual event on the social calendar and this year raised BD4000 for charity.