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2023-12-31-accounts

NUMBER 27 NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2023

PLEASE INFORM US IF YOUR POSTAL/EMAIL ADDRESS HAS CHANGED

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

After a long wait, FOH opened a new Sterling online account with Virgin Money UK in August 2023. Please be advised that any currency donations can be sent directly to the online account. Please see bank details on back page. .

OUR NEW PATRON

A fond farewell to our outgoing Patron John Harding and a warm welcome to our new Patron Angela Kilmartin

In May our dear and esteemed Patron John Harding (FOH 10.4.97) wrote to the trustees:

“In the light of my own present circumstances I believe that the time has come for me to step down as an FOH Patron. Naturally, I have come to this conclusion with reluctance for we go back a very long way (served in Hadhramaut 1960s) and it has been a great privilege to play some part, albeit very minor, in FOH affairs. However, given my age (90 next August), the role of FOH Patron is better served by someone younger, more mobile and more closely in touch with FOH’s aims and its diverse activities which go from strength to strength. I will always treasure my association with FOH and even more so, my long friendship with the AlQu’aiti family. We will of course, continue to follow FOH’s progress with interest and it is Georgina’s and my sincere hope that there will be future opportunities for us all to meet up again. Georgina and I both send FOH our warmest best wishes for the future.”

The Trustees accepted the entirely understandable reasons for our much valued Patron ’s retirement and wrote to John to thank him for his unstinting and generous commitment to FOH. It was always a great pleasure to see John and Georgina at our events. They shall continue to remain much loved and appreciated Friends of Hadhramaut.

In June, John wrote to us: “I would like to thank FOH fulsomely for their kind and undeservedly generous words. Inevitably life moves on and one must adapt to changed circumstances. I often think of those words of Islamic wisdom: we travel on the wheel of fate and know not what is written . It is a consolation to have had some uplifting experiences and adventures over the years and produce 3 wonderful daughters and to be blessed with 10 grandchildren. I was delighted to learn that Oslo was such a success. I was particularly sad to miss this event as I spent several months in Scandinavia whilst at Cambridge, mainly in

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Sweden where I worked during a long vacation. Also, a few visits to Norway for some gentle mountaineering, sailing round Lofoten and expeditioning in Svalbad. It was a great honour to have served as an FOH Patron since 2015 and done some small service in the Hadhramaut 73 years ago. I have no doubt that FOH will continue to flourish”.

Angela Kilmartin was the very FIRST person to join FOH on 12[th] December 1996. From the outset her commitment and loyalty to the charity has been outstanding. She has organised no less than 4 fundraising events covering a wide range of venues: September 2002 - a memorable evening at the Tower of London (marvelously assisted by June and Melanie Lake); 2007 – an unforgettable tour of St. Paul’s Cathedral where Angela sang a song; June 2009 - a splendid river trip on the Stour, North Essex; September 2019 - an unforgettable garden party at Cressing Barns, Essex.

In July we unanimously agreed at the annual trustees meeting to invite Angela to become our 8[th] patron, upon the retirement of John Harding. We were delighted when she accepted:

. “Your amazing letter arrived here in Essex inviting me to become a patron of FOH. I am taken aback by its contents and have indeed given it serious contemplation spread over several bouts of self-discussion. Age and health are big factors. The balance of 'yay or nay' has eventually tipped towards 'yay'. Our lengthy association and wonderful friendships have played a big part in this decision process. I also recognise the trustees’ undoubted abilities and strenuous commitment to this charitable cause for the people of Hadhramaut. FOH is the best example I know of on the Asian continent in which superb charity abounds. It is underwritten and overseen by your team on the ground to a 100 percent level of satisfactory aims and outcomes. I am therefore very pleased and greatly honoured to have been asked to take a place on the Board. I really am. I accept this position with interest, love and admiration for what FOH achieves and look forward to my involvement.”

Angela is convent-educated and won performers' awards to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama following her five years of modelling. As lecturer, researcher and author of many books on Cystitis, she is globally recognised for this pioneering work. Mercury poisoning from dental fillings became another health promotion. Angela undertook book tours in USA and presented these subjects on UK media shows: www.angelakilmartin.com

Following 7 years living in Lagos and Jeddah, she has been thrilled to support FOH and loved visiting the Hadhramaut in 2007 on a tour organised by the Treasurer and Alan D’Arcy where she was able to witness many FOH projects firsthand. Moving to Witham, Essex in 2011, Angela became a District and Town Councillor, Chairman and then town Mayor. She is Chairman of the Witham History Group and the Witham Luncheon Club. After retiring in May 2024 from the Council, Angela looks forward to helping FOH in her role as Patron.

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URGENT APPEAL FOR AMBULANCE

The people of Wadi Hajar, one of the poorest districts in Hadhramaut, are in dire need. They have appealed to FOH for an ambulance to transport their dead from Mukalla (approximately 105 kms) to their villages for burial. Due to the high, unaffordable cost of fuel and the deteriorating economic situation, we hope that this very deserving request will be met. A second-hand ambulance in the UAE can be purchased for AED150,000 (approximately £ 30,000 ) and can be transported overland to Mukalla.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

In April, after 7 years of a devastating war in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the Houthi forces agreed to a ceasefire. We hope this will alleviate the misery of over a million Hadhramis in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The Hadhramaut is the largest governorate in Yemen. When we founded FOH in 1997, we concentrated on shipping medical, educational and disability related equipment from the UK to al-Mukalla. We spent our donations on building lavatories, dormitories, classrooms, playgrounds, shelters and sports facilities. We furnished sewing, autism centres and clinics in far-flung areas and supplied medicines. As the situation deteriorated, we found that bricks and mortar were no longer the priority. Food was and IS the crying need of the day. People need clean drinking water and sustenance. As the war continued, incomes fell, unemployment rose, and Covid-19 struck. Most donations are currently spent on distributing dry goods, continuing medical aid and helping towards minor surgeries. FOH could not operate without the voluntary dedication of our man on the ground Salah Al-Qu’aiti, who for the last 26 years has managed all our projects; he is the cornerstone of FOH. Last Ramadan was particularly traumatic for many Hadhrami families both in coastal areas and in the wadis. Families could not afford to buy food and therefore fasting was challenging. Salah managed to put together food baskets with essentials: sugar, salt, flour, noodles, rice, tuna cans, dates, tomato paste and milk powder, distributing them to needy families, ably assisted by his two sons. The necessity of continuing with these baskets is crucial especially as these rations only last a month. We need to maintain food supplies to families in bereft areas.

Al-Moqaibel Hospital, Al Jahi, Wadi Leisar

Thanks to the Berfred Foundation and their magnanimous donation of an X-ray machine to this hospital, an average of 250 patients a month are using this facility as stated by Hamed Al-Safi, Health Office Manager, Wadi Doan. FOH has provided the hospital with X-ray film so that the machine can keep running on a regular basis.

Aid and Donations in Hadhramaut

Salah distributed 135 baskets of food in Ramadan in Mukalla, Ghail BaWazir and its environs. His son Ali distributed more than 50 in al-Qatn, 30 in al-Shihr and to some needy families in Tareem. This time the quantity of sugar was reduced from 19 kgs to 5 kgs. Salah tried to cover as many families as he could.

He also distributed 100 school bags along with stationery in the Mukalla area and over 170 uniforms were distributed to poor families in the al-Shihr area. Medicines were distributed to

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poor families in the Wadi and along the coastal areas and to Medical Centres in Harshiyat and Rukab.

PENDING PROJECTS

Sports, Youth and Culture Club, al Qatn, Wadi Hadhramaut

Thanks to a very generous donation from the Berfred Foundation FOH is currently laying the foundations for a purpose built gymnasium in the club grounds which will comprise a large hall to be used by both women and men, an office, 2 changing rooms and 2-3 toilets. Used gym equipment has been purchased from Abu Dhabi.

LEGACIES AND WILLS

Those thinking about leaving a legacy to FOH can check our bona fides by consulting the website of the Charity Commission of England & Wales: www.charitycommission.gov.uk. FOH is registered with the Commissioners under Charity Number 1062560 since May 1997. If you are planning your will (or making additions to an existing one) we cannot over emphasise how grateful we, and the poorest people of Hadhramaut would be for a bequest from you. If there is a particular project you are interested in supporting, or specific terms and conditions you would like to make, please contact the treasurer at our registered address, or ask your solicitor to do so.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS

David & Ann Grainger Pius Fischer Dr. Julia Bray
Paul Hughes-Smith John&Patricia Ducker Mr. &Mrs.Bin Dohry
Dr. Anne Regourd Vanja Pantovic Norunn Vorland
Zuhair al-Jefri Philippa Vaughan Anna Haug
Sultana & Fatima al-Qu’aiti Nina Kneppen Inger Kristofferson
Petter & Bente Holt
Håkonsen		 Margaretha, Gabrielle &
JosephineØstern		 Sir William & Lady Vanessa
Patey
Eva Bekkelund-Eriksen Patricia Loudon Bernhard Herzmaier
Dr. Hanne Schönig Leif Ole Manger Dr. Anne Bang
Jan Einar & GryMette Daae Dina von Randow Mette Daae Dina von Randow Julia Miles
Carl Schiøtz Wibye WolfgangGaerte Uwe & Mona Drettwan

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Sverre Driveklepp Aida Altaie James Budd
Corinne Hillman Ole Martin Gjeraker Tveit Carsten Pigott
Aziz Omar Julia Schellens Juli Avedissian
Dr.Gerhard Heck Renate Ammann Beatrice Wiesemann
Sue Roff Aida Kellal Phillipa Pardue
The Zain family A H Hydes John A Horrell
Shireen Careem Shifa Khan Latifa Lemoh
Arild & Torill Storvik Nico Kummer Julie Friis Petersen
Joelle Febvre Marion Herb Alan de LacyRush
Unni Wikan Marie-Jose Defrance Ole Jacob Driveklepp
Dr.Willi Steul Mimi Cejka Sidsel & Odd Ramen
Angela Kilmartin Sarah Finch Trude Onstad
Aisha GrayHenry Walid Al-Ward Aste & Torunn Bratli
Joachim Duester Dr. Matthias Eigenbrodt Marit Sørvald
Eva Bergren Ravinder Sandhu Zamzam Hussain
Zeeshan & Lubna Sheikh Lubna Kanwal Noel Butler
Renate Husseini Dr. Edward Hayes Mick Walton
Daphne Sanders AnthonyPrince Norman JM Cameron
Peter Ingrams Ulla & Maija Calvert Sir Harold Walker
Jusitice John Bryson Christopher Baker Asma Ibrahim
Col. Morton Burdick DimitySpiller Afshan Khokher
The Mohamed Ali
Foundation		 Ronald & Florence
Mollinger		 Nicholas Morris
Shima Khan Dr. Ulrike Freitag Alexandre Cumas
Afshan & Sumaira Waheed Rakhshee Raza

Our heartfelt thanks to these Friends who continue to support us through standing orders: Lady Bute , Lord Green of Deddington , S al-Juffali , Dr. Ronit Lami , Thanos Petouris , Canon Peter D Ingrams and Dr. FJ Pocock. We hope other Friends will consider setting up orders to help our cause.

We would like to offer our profuse thanks to anonymous donors in the United Arab Emirates .

In October 2023 the Berfred Foundation made a magnanimous donation of £21,956.79 to FOH.

NEWS OF THE CHAIRMAN

Saleh, currently based in Riyadh/Jeddah, would be happy to meet any FOH passing through: salehbinghalib@hotmail.com

NEWS OF THE VICE-CHAIRMAN

In May 2022, Salah organised a visit for a group of children from a local kindergarten in Ghail BaWazir who visited "al-Bagh".

In September his two eldest sons were married; both Muhammad and Ali are a great help to him in his work.

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Salah Al-Qu’aiti

NEWS OF THE ADVISER

Brian Fyfield-Shayler can only be reached by post: BA Fyfield-Shayler, 5 Quant Park, Tavistock, Devon PL19 0JQ

James Budd & Brian, Tavistock, September 2023

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NEWS OF THE TREASURER

Sultana was very pleased to welcome Aisha Gray Henry from Kentucky in February and Dr. Gerhard Heck and Frau Renate Ammann from Mainz to her home in Jeddah in March as well as Farida Azad in September and Dr. Ulrike Freitag in December. George Hancock, Jean Franco and Shima Khan joined FOH when they visited Jeddah in April. She was delighted to meet Sheikha Al-Attas in Vienna in May and honoured to meet Dr. Jan Just Witkam, Emeritus Professor of Codicology and Paleography of the Islamic World, Leiden University in Leiden in June. She was very grateful to Wolfgang Gaerte for organising her journey to Oslo from Berlin.

Dr. Gerhard Heck and Frau Renate Ammann

Sultana met David and Ann Grainger and Prince Abbas Hilmi at Durham University in June; Eva Bekkelund-Eriksen and Mimi Cejka from Oslo in London in August as well as Mick Walton from Italy.

Jean Franco & George Hancock Eva Bekkelund-Eriksen & Mimi Cejka

Farida Azad

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NEWS FROM NORWEGIAN BRANCH

FUNDRAISING DINNER AT THE EKEBERGRESTAURANTEN, OSLO 19[th] MAY

The organisation for our 3 day Oslo event was superb. 60 plus attendees comprising 10 nationalities came to this stunning city to enjoy the variety of experiences arranged by our hosts. We witnessed the colourful Constitution Day Parade with a wealth of fabulous folkloric costumes worn by the proud Norwegians, as we walked around soaking up the friendly atmosphere and watched the cheerful school children as they marched past to the tunes of their impressive bands. This was followed by a most delicious, copious lunch prepared lovingly by Nina and her mother Inger, comprising many Norwegian specialities at their beautiful home in Hagan where we were regaled to a musical interlude featuring Angela Kilmartin, Sarah Finch, Arild Berger and Sverre. Our historic trip to Hole the next day was ably coordinated by Torunn Bratli and by the charming Eva who greeted us in the Bosnes church, associated with King Olav the Holy, where we enjoyed listening to Norwegian folk songs sung hauntingly by Ase Bratli. We all enjoyed the talks in the bus on Norwegian culture and history given by Torunn and Eva, not to mention the breath-taking scenery. A return to the amazing Oslo Opera House to watch a performance of the ballet Crystal Pite: Light of Passage and explore the remarkable edifice. Our restaurant was chosen for its spectacular views over the city and for its gastronomy. This was preceded by a guided tour of the renowned Munch Museum. We were very fortunate to have 2 keynote speakers, who journeyed from Bergen, to address us on fascinating aspects of Hadhrami history.

Presentations

Dr. Anne Bang, Professor of Middle Eastern and African Islamic History at the University of Bergen gave a presentation on The Tale of the Two Riyadhas: The Riyadha Mosque of Lamu, Kenya and the Riyadha of Sayun, Hadhramawt . Her main research has been on the influence of Hadhramaut in East Africa in terms of migration but especially in the field of intellectual and religious leadership. She is the author of several books including Islamic Sufi Networks in the Western Indian Ocean .

Dr. Leif Manger who retired as Professor in the Department of Social Anthropology at the University of Bergen gave a presentation on The Hadhrami diaspora in East Africa , in which area he is a specialist. He is the author of the Hadhrami Diaspora: Community-building on the Indian Ocean Rim (2010). He has also published works on trade, communal labour and socio-cultural processes of Arabisation and Islamisation.

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Auction of Painting

Britt Boutros-Ghali, a world famous Norwegian artist, very generously donated her painting to help raise funds for Hadhramaut. It was successfully auctioned by Norunn Vorland at the Oslo dinner for €1,750. We are grateful to Norunn Vorland and Hisham Hafiz for initiating the idea of auctioning the painting. The buyer wishes to remain anonymous. Britt was born in Norway in 1937 and studied painting and sculpture in Oslo in the late 1950s. She became a pivotal player in the Abstract Expressionist scene of the day. She has exhibited internationally throughout her career, and her work is widely collected, both privately and in public institutions worldwide. In 1996 she was awarded the St.Olav’s Order, the highest honour given to an artist, by King Haakon of Norway.

S verre and Norunn auctioning the painting

Comments from Friends on the Oslo event

London

Montpellier

Essex

Oslo

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delicious dates and Hadhrami gifts for us all. I want to congratulate you all on a great success. Best wishes for your continued most valuable work!

California

Frankfurt

Düsseldorf

Gloucestershire

Extracts from Speech by FOH Treasurer

When Pius Fischer called me in August 2017 from Augsburg to tell me that he had enrolled 2 Norwegian friends of his into FOH – a certain Sverre Driveklepp and one Nina Kneppen, I was delighted. They not only agreed to become the Local Coordinators for FOH, but at Cressing Barns in 2019, they offered to host a fundraising event in Oslo, 2020. We remain utterly beholden to them for their persistent tenacity in spite of having to postpone this event no less than 3 times. Sverre and Nina first put together this remarkable programme in 2020. Their diligence and the total bonhomie with which they have welcomed us all is heartwarming. They have regaled us with a breathtaking panorama of Norwegian gastronomy, culture, art, music, ballet and hospitality. It is impossible to find words to thank you Sverre and you Nina. The people of Hadhramaut, 1000s of miles away, thank you from the bottom of their hearts!

We have amongst our 60 guests tonight our 2 esteemed Patrons - John and Patricia Ducker who lived and served in the Hadhramaut in the 60s. Thank you John and Patricia for gracing our event today!

It is heartening and deeply moving to see so many Friends and supporters who have travelled such long distances from all over the world. Raya Abu Gulal and her daughter Aida al-Taie have travelled all the way from the Middle East and Juli Avedissian all the way from California.

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Angela Kilmartin & Sarah Finch Sir William & Lady Patey

We welcome our loyal supporters from the UK: Alan Rush, Phillipa Vaughan, Angela Kilmartin, Sarah Finch, Patricia Loudon and Corinne Hillman (whose father Col. Hillman served in the Hadhramaut in the 1960s); Julia Miles (whose late husband Oliver Miles also served in the Hadhramaut); James Budd and Philippa Pardue; Sir William and Lady Patey who was instrumental in raising funds for classrooms in Ghail BaWazir when she chaired ICING (International Children In Need Group) in Riyadh. I never met the late Dr. William Roff, one of our earliest supporters, former Professor of Islamic and South-East Asian History at Columbia University, but I am delighted that his wife Susan has come from Scotland to join us.

From Austria, we welcome Bernhard Herzmaier. From Spain, Aida Kellal. From Montenegro, Vanja Pantovic. From Denmark, Aziz Omar and from France Joelle Febvre and Marie Jose Defrance.

What would we do without our indefatigable Local Coordinator in Germany, Wolfgang Gaerte who succeeded in bringing his sister Beatrice, Dina von Randow, Dr. Gerhard Heck and his wife Renate, Pius Fischer, Nicolaus Kummer and Marion Herb. Thank you Wolfgang! Thank you Pius!

Last, but not least, we welcome our wonderful Norwegian Friends. My close friend, Margaretha Ostern, introduced me to Norwegian history and culture in Jeddah 45 years ago. Elsa Rennes from Kristiansand and Widad Shihabi from Bergen were the first Norwegian FOH in 1997. In 1999 the remarkable Eva Bekkelund-Eriksen joined FOH.

I would like to thank 2 exemplary trustees. They work terribly hard both behind the scenes and here tonight. I applaud Maija Calvert, our Local Coordinator in France, and our trustee Fatima Al-Qu’aiti who has come all the way from California.

Tonight, we honour Karl Erik Larsen, born in 1947, who passed away in March in Bergen. He was to be with us tonight and is proudly represented by his son Erik as we recall the most remarkable story of his great-grandfather Arthur Larsen, who was a crew member on a Norwegian 2-masted 150 ton schooner called the Asp on a voyage from Norway to China in 1927. This was the first Norwegian vessel EVER to call at al-Mukalla. Details and photographs are in our Archives section. Our thanks to Karl for joining FOH in 2016 and for alerting us to this amazing journey.

€ 5,936 was raised in Oslo for FOH. sverre.driveklepp@gmail.com

D:\FOH NL 27 & Oslo Event May 2023\Friends of Hadhramaut Oslo Flier May 2023.pdf

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NEWS FROM NETHERLANDS BRANCH

Dr. Ed Hayes, Postdoctoral Researcher at Leiden University collaborated with Dr. Kate Pukhovaia, Assistant Professor at Utrecht University and specialist in Yemeni history of the 13th-17th centuries to host an event with administrative support from the Leiden University Centre for Islam and Society (LUCIS).

The earliest Yemeni Zaidi text on Fiqh

Local Coordinator Dr. Alex Ingrams (alex.ingrams@gmail.com), Dr. Anne Regourd, Renate Husseini and Sultana al-Qu’aiti attended the two-day seminar on Yemen at Leiden University in June. It included a pop-up exhibition of Yemen-related artifacts at Leiden University Library, a Yemeni studies roundtable, a manuscripts workshop for students and scholars and a research lecture by Dr. Scott Lucas (Associate Professor of Islamic Studies Arizona |——; University): “ Publish or Perish: Religious Zaydi publishers in | Yemen during the 1990s ”.

Renate Husseini

https://www.library.universiteitleid en.nl/news/2022/09/amsterdam- ~~a~~ yemen-library-nowavailable?fbclid=IwAR0AXWqzGJ 9mYTKK8QZr_5uN5zR Renate Husseini k9AbKhdlGdT4VdytH4TlWeyvNs UgkXGA

N ew FOH Ronnie & Florence Mollinger

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The library of a great scholar: Dr. J J Witkam

I met Dr. Jan Just Witkam, Emeritus Professor of Codicology and Paleography of the Islamic World, Leiden University in Leiden in June. Dr. Witkam is the first Dutch Friend of Hadhramaut, joining as early as December 1997. I was introduced to him through Daniel van der Meulen’s wife Dr. Helene van der MeulenDuhm and through our second patron Leila Ingrams. I had heard about his amazing house dating back to the 14[th] century and situated in the oldest part of Leiden from Dr. Ulrike Freitag who had stayed there while he was away in Cairo doing research at the National Library of Egypt. It sits on the confluence of two rivers and has the most amazing views out onto the old town.

We talked about Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani and it was fon a enlightening to hear how deeply Dr. Witkam respected his intellect as a true visionary. He had served on the Board of the Al Furqan Islamic Heritage Foundation. Sheikh Yamani entertained many projects and ideas which included his desire to do more research on Snouck Hurgronje, the great Orientalist who lived in Jeddah (1884-85). His phonographic recordings in Jeddah are all stored at the Oriental Department, Leiden University Library, including all his private letters and papers which Dr. Witkam has worked on.

I asked him about Dr. Anne-Marie Schimmel, a close friend whom he ranked very highly as an Islamic scholar and as a scholar of Persian, Urdu and Arabic. He himself is also a scholar of Persian History having studied Persian at Tehran University and worked there during the Pahlavi era. He went to India in 1974, visiting Delhi and Hyderabad where he gave a lecture at the Salar Jang Museum and donated books to the Curator in the Library who reciprocated with a gift for the Leiden University Library.

I asked Dr. Witkam about the Hadhramaut as he knew the family of the renowned writer and traveller Daniel van der Meulen. He visited the Hadhramaut in 1994 just after the Wahda (Unification) and was taken there by the Dutch government flying from Sanaa to Seiyun and then driven to Tarim where he visited the famous Maktabat Al Ahqaf which impressed him. The Dutch government sent two young scholars/librarians from Leiden University to help with cataloguing the manuscripts in the Ahqaf Library. He was sorry not to have visited Mukalla but he did visit Shibam which remained etched in his memory as a wonderful architectural feature.

I was then graciously escorted to his magnificient library which was the highlight of my visit and a very unique experience for me as I beheld thousands of splendid volumes and leather-bound tomes which resonated deep scholarship and elevated erudition. Many of the books are precious, old legal documents bound

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in parchment as Dr. Witkam’s father had taught Roman Law at Leiden University. He picked up a book that he had just completed in 2022 Values of old paper and gifted it to me with a dedication. In all my years I have never seen a private library containing works of such antiquity.

Sultana al-Qu’aiti

NEWS FROM CANADIAN BRANCH

We are very grateful to Local Coordinator Alexandre Cumas for hosting and organising the annual Parc Centennial barbecue and fundraiser in July. The total amount raised was Canadian $240. firetexion@gmail.com

FOH Supporters in Montreal

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NEWS FROM FRENCH BRANCH

As a trustee and Local Coordinator, we thank Maija Calvert for her tremendous support at our Oslo event. In August Maija moved from Paris to a new job in Antibes. maijacalvert@gmail.com

Many thanks to JM Bel for promoting FOH in Angers in March. He has prefaced and illustrated a book called Al Arabiyya Al Saeeda (Arabia Felix) authored by Fathiyya Mahmoud Siddiq, wife of the Yemeni Ambassador to France.

Dr. Riyadh Yassin with JM Bel

NEWS FROM GERMAN BRANCH

We thank Local Coordinator Wolfgang Gaerte for his presence at Oslo and his sterling efforts in recruiting German Friends to attend the event. He attended the AGM of the Deutsche Jemenitische Gesellschaft (DJG) in Berlin in May along with Ruth Hildebrandt, Sultana al-Qu’aiti, Marie-Amelie Steul, Dr. Matthias Eigenbrodt, Zuhair al-Jefri and Joachim Duester. He never loses an opportunity to publicise our work. w.gaerte@yahoo.com

We thank Wolfgang for writing such a detailed and interesting account of FOH’s work in the Hadhramaut for the annual Jemen Report. The Pdf link to the article:

FOH Article in Annual Jemen Report 2023.pdf

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Wolfgang Gaerte and Marie-Amelie Steul

Ruth Hildebrandt, Treasurer DJG

Dr. Freitag & Dr. Dannemann meeting HM King Charles III & Queen Camilla, Berlin, March 2023

tied See ae oe Sn et The LCs father Felix Gaerte on his way to Buckingham Palace for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

W Gaerte, Dina v Randow, Udo & Rosie Kluth, Beatrice Wiesemann in Kiel

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NEWS FROM ITALIAN BRANCH

Our Local Coodinator Mick Walton writes: At the 5th International Sir Richard Burton Conference held in Vienna in October, I made a short, out-of-conference presentation about the Hadhramaut, distributed material about FOH and donated 50 percent of the profits of the bookstall to FOH. mickwalton@libero.it

NEWS FROM PAKISTAN BRANCH

Local Coordinator Rukhsana Rashid leaves no stone unturned in helping FOH in myriad ways. We are especially grateful to her for her consummate skills and painstaking hard work in the preparation of this newsletter. Rashid.rukhsana@gmail.com

Congratulations to Rashida Masood and Saleem Bukhari on the inauguration in December 2023 of the Memorial Park Group, Karachi where trees were planted.

NEWS FROM SINGAPORE BRANCH

Our new patron Angela Kilmartin visited Singapore in November 2023 where she was delighted to meet a few FOH. We hope to forge closer links with this branch through Farah Ali Bahajaj fabjajrp@gmail.com Sharifah Zahra Aljunied has written a book entitled A reverent journey: Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka 1820-2020 and Beyond (Singapore 2022). The Mosque is the first prayer house built in Singapore by her ancestor Syed Omar bin Ali Aljunied. Syed Omar was born in Tarim and came to Singapore in 1819. In September 2023, the book won the Singapore Book Award.

Angela at the Raffles Hotel

Angela with Khadijah Alattas, Aisha al-Sarihi & Farah Bahajaj

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NEWS FROM USA BRANCH

A cri de coeur from Local Coordinator John Mulholland : “I see several countries are moving ahead with plans to create events for FOH. Meanwhile, the largest nation among FOH supporters (currently 65), the USA, sits idly by. What is the “hook” to get Friends here more interested? Although I am well inserted into our Atlanta Arab and international communities, Yemen is low on their lists of interests. I am very keen on generating greater awareness amongst our USA membership and would very much appreciate some feedback from Friends on our continent as to how to raise funds for Hadhramaut. Does any Friend have contact with the Washington Center of Yemeni Studies?” jmulholland45@aol.com

CONDOLENCES

Our deepest sympathy to Wafaa Murad on the death of her mother Wahiba Tahir Abdul Aziz in February 2020 in Jeddah

Our deepest sympathy to Dr. David Bryer CMG (former Chair of Oxfam International) on the death of his wife Margaret Isabel Bowyer Bryer (FOH 30.10.07) in March 2020

Our deepest sympathy to Siegfried Niederberger on the death of his wife Monika Niederberger (FOH 1.1.18) in the autumn of 2022

Our deepest sympathy to Dr. Antoine Turzi on the death of his mother Francesca Turzi aged 98 in Toulouse, France in December 2022

It was with great sadness that I learnt of the death of Alan D’Arcy (FOH 23.1.97) on 15[th] December 2022 in a Torquay care home thanks to a call from Gary Mundy.

I first met Alan in Hadhramaut in 1997 on a BYS tour that our = former patron Jim Ellis had led. Alan co-hosted two early memorable garden parties in Torquay with Pandora Holloway and helped (along with Gary) with the garden party in 2016 hosted by Yousif al-Nasser. He was an outstanding Friend. Having no family — of his own, I would make it a point of visiting him every year in Es Torquay but sadly was unable to do so last year.

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Alan was born on 20.5.1930. He was a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and served in the Aden Protectorate Levies (APL) from 1953-56. From 1948-1951, he served in the RAF Administration in Cranwell. He once told me how cold it was when he worked on the coke stoves at Compton Bassett. In Aden, he befriended Godfrey Meynell and Bill Heber-Percy who encouraged him to join the Western Aden Protectorate service. From 19631967 he served as a political officer in Nisaab, Upper Awlaqi Sultanate. Muhammad Awadh, the grandson of the former Awlaqi Sultan became his ward. Alan was delighted to be re-connected with the Awlaqis after joining the BYS tour in 1997. He led several tours for the BYS and served as their Treasurer from 1998-2003. Alan will be sorely missed.

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Alan and Gary, Torquay 2021
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Our heartfelt condolences to Gary Mundy and Muhammad Awadh. Gary left no stone unturned in looking after Alan, seeing to his every need; shopping, cooking, taking him to the doctor, to hospital and finally arranging for him to be moved from his flat in Paignton to a care home in Torquay. He was an exemplary friend to Alan, caring for him as a son would care for his father and given his nursing background, meticulous in his medical care for Alan. Gary had arranged for Alan's flights to Oslo in 2020 and booked hotels; unfortunately the FOH fundraising event had to be postponed due to Covid-19. Alan had travelled all the way to Venice to support FOH in 2014. FOH is pleased to confer Alan’s FOH membership on Gary.

A memorial tea was held in memory of Alan in Torquay in June at the Robin Hill Hotel. Those present were BA Fyfield-Shayler, Andrew Mead, Gary, Maj.Yeoman, Julia Sanders, Yousif al-Nassir and Sultana. Andrew’s arrangements were excellent as always and FOH is very grateful to him and Yousif for all their help and generosity.

Left to right Andrew Mead, BA Fyfield-Shayler, Yousif Al-Nassar, Julia Sanders, Maj. Yeoman & Gary Mundy

Alan leading FOH tour in 2005

Sultana al-Qu’aiti

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Our deepest sympathy to the children of Tom Stacey on his death in London in December 2022. A memorial service was held for him in May 2023 at St. John the Baptist Church, London

The Treasurer writes : Shama Husain and Robert Shipman attended the memorial service, representing FOH. We first met Tom in 1997 in Jeddah and thereafter developed a warm friendship. Tom was amongst the very first to join FOH (27.1.97), a charity which was very close to his heart. He was both a generous supporter and a loyal attendee at our events. I last met Tom at his daughter Tilly's pottery exhibition in 2022. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire family on the passing of a remarkable man Sultan Ghalib al-Quaiti remembers : It is impossible to describe a man of Tom's many rare and diverse qualities and gifts. Although "very English" in his outward appearance and demeanour, he possessed that bravura of unhesitatingly mixing with a huge variety of people. Blessed with a fine intellect and an always open and questioning mind of a great professional journalist, he was also gifted with a very keen and shrewdly observant eye. He was a sincere and generous friend and host, always willing to go well out of his way for a deserving cause.

May you rest in eternal peace dear Tom; you will always be dearly remembered by all those who came into contact with you. REQUIESCAT IN PACEM

Our deepest sympathy to Dr. Muna Bagour on the death of her husband Omar Cornel Pavel Vulcu (FOH 22.11.13) in Munich

Our deepest sympathy to Marion Leslie née Serjeant on the death of her brother Lesley Serjeant in January 2023

Our deepest sympathy to the family of HEH Nizam Mir Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, Asaf Jah VIII (FOH 29.11.2000) on his death in Istanbul in January 2023. The Nizam was tremendously grateful to our Vice Chairman for showing him the Hadhramaut when Salah arranged his visit and accompanied him in 2000

Our deepest sympathy to Caroline al-Juneid on the death of her father Jurges Klibingaitis in Melbourne in February 2023 and on the death of her sister Maxine Klibingaitis in Melbourne in April 2023

Our deepest sympathy to Lady Vanessa Patey on the death of her father Leonard Morrell aged 97 in London in February 2023

Our deepest sympathy to Angela, Richard, Philippa and Belinda on the death of their husband/father Stephen Day (FOH 20.05.07) in Surrey in March 2023. A memorial service was held for him in April where our Patron John Harding represented FOH. Angela will continue her beloved husband’s FOH membership. Stephen was Chairman of the British Yemeni Society in 1998

Sultan Ghalib al-Quaiti remembers : Stephen was a fine political officer who served the people in the Western Aden Protectorate with a sensitive and responsible open mind, always keen to understand and give serious consideration to the other side's views when he felt that this was in the mutual interest. Not surprisingly, this display of independence would have been hardly welcome by his superiors. He was a caring and loyal friend. The Fadhlis for one remember him to this day with great respect and appreciation

Muzna al-Quaiti adds : It was very kind how Uncle Stephen saw me through my MA at SOAS, always checking in with consideration during his time at MBI Al-Jaber Foundation.

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Our deepest sympathy to Irmelin, Elisabeth and Erik Dahl Larsen on the death of their husband/father Karl Erik Larsen (FOH 18.09.16) in Bergen in March 2023. We are pleased that his son Erik has taken on his father’s FOH membership

Our deepest sympathy to Dr. Abdul Aziz bin Ali al-Qu’aiti and his family on the death of his wife Shafiqa Rubia Ali al-Qu’aiti in Jordan in May 2023

Our deepest sympathy to Asya Alashaikh on the death of her mother Noura Hassan in Riyadh in June 2023

Our deepest sympathy to Felipe and Laura Allard on the death of their mother Baroness Allard nēe Sharifa Aziza AlAtas (FOH 13.6.14) in London in June 2023. The Treasurer attended her funeral at Kensal Green cemetery and her memorial service held in London in September 2023

Our deepest sympathy to Caroline Lees on the death of her husband Colonel Brian Lees LVO OBE (11.2.97) aged 91 in London in June 2023. During a distinguished 34-year army career, he served with the British Army in Aden and then the Aden Protectorate Levies in the 1950s, before returning to the region as Defense Attache in Saudi Arabia and Yemen 197579. Several FOH attended a memorial service at The King’s Chapel of the Savoy, London on 9[th] October 2023 (his 92[nd] birthday) where Sir Harold Walker gave the eulogy.

Our deepest sympathy to Ulrike Freitag on the death of her mother Annelies Krause in Germany in July 2023

Our deepest sympathy to Alison Johnson on the death of her mother Dr. Muriel Berkeley (FOH 22.10.98) who died in July 2023 in Scotland two weeks short of her 98[th] birthday. We are delighted that Alison has taken on her mother’s membership: “My parents first went to Aden at the invitation of the Anglican church who had some land where they wished to set up a mother and baby clinic. They ended up forging links between the local hospitals and the Ministry of Health with their equivalents in Aberdeen. They enjoyed the company of all the Cuban doctors who were great fun. They also did some basic medical work - particularly M who was able to visit veiled women in their homes. My father (Dr. Jim Berkeley) was always talking about the Hadhramaut - what an amazing place!”

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Our deepest sympathy to Jane Forrester on the death of her husband Bob Forrester (FOH 16.8.03) in August 2023 in Brockham. Several FOH attended the funeral service at St. Michael’s Church, Betchworth in September 2023

FOH extend their heartfelt condolences to the family of Al Muqaddam Ali bin Muhammad Saeed Al-Juhi who died in Uqran, Wadi Hadhramaut in September 2023. He entertained our patron Joanna Ellis at his home in 2005 and accompanied our patron Leila Ingrams when she inaugurated FOH classrooms in Reidat al Juhiyyin in 2004

Our deepest sympathy to the family of Muhammed Amir Muhammed Khan, the Raja of Mahmudabad (FOH 10.5.99) who died in October 2023 in Lucknow after a prolonged illness

THANKS

Louise Hosking and the British Yemeni Society for including the FOH Oslo event in their April 2023 newsletter: “it is such a well put-together event”

Daphne Sanders for sharing the Oslo event flier with her Norwegian friends

Shama Husain and Robert Shipman for attending Tom Stacey’s memorial service on behalf of FOH in May 2023

Dr. Gerhard Heck and Dr. Ulrike Freitag for posting letters in Germany

Dr. Marie-Christine Heinze , President CARPO (Centre for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient) for publishing an article on FOH in the annual Jemen Report (DJG)

Owain Raw-Rees for donating a signed David Shepherd print of Mukalla to FOH

Geoff Calvert OBE Independent Examiner for auditing our accounts voluntarily

Huraiby al-Huraiby , our diligent webmaster, for keeping the FOH website updated with such dedication and enthusiasm

CONGRATULATIONS

Louis Blin on his appointment in September 2022 as Research Director Middle East at the European University, Florence and on sharing a panel of discussions at Riyadh’s Annual Book Fair in September where 80 French publishers participated La Ligue Islamique Mondiale: Le Renouveau Musulman? and Récits pr é sent é s et annot é s Alexandre Dumas R é cits d’Arabie (L’Harmattan)

Sverre Driveklepp on the occasion of his mother Arna Driveklepp’s 93[rd] birthday in November 2022 and on the birth of his grandson Albert Driveklepp Skulstad in Oslo in October 2023

Julian Paxton on the marriage of his son Edward to Faye in Cape Town in December 2022

Sir Harold Walker on his 90[th] birthday in 2022

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Pia Kanaan on her transfer from Switzerland to Ludgrove Boys Preparatory School in Berkshire

Princess Caroline Murat (Caroline Haffner) on initiating, founding and organising the 17[th] Gstaad New Year Music Festival in December 2022

John Mulholland on his Sicilian story being published in Atlanta-Italy News, Presented by Global Atlanta

Muhammad Salah al-Qu’aiti on passing the neuro-brain surgery specialisation exam from the Yemeni Medical Board, being one of seven top candidates to qualify in the whole of Yemen

Dr. Gerhard Heck on being awarded the 2020 ITB prize for the best German language Oman travel guide Oman Reise Handbuch . Dumont have also published his well-known travel handbook Arabische Halbinsel

Felipe Fernandez-Armesto , William P Reynolds Professor of History at Notre Dame University USA, on his latest book Straits: Beyond the Myth of Magellan published by Bloomsbury in 2022 and on editing the Oxford History of the World (OUP 2023)

Dr. Razia Sultanova on her latest book Woman’s Journey in Afghan Music Study: Field work in a Burka and on her book Afghanistan Dispossessed: Women, Culture and the Taliban (Pen and Sword 2023); and on her book " From Shamanism to Sufism: Women, Islam and Culture in Central Asia" (IB Tauris, 2014) being translated into Serbian (UTOPIA Publishers Belgrade) and on her appointment as a Visiting Professor at Charles University, Prague and Honorary Professor at the Eurasian International University, Bishkek. She and her husband Hamid Ismailov participated in the Lahore Literary Festival in February 2023. Congratulations to both of them on the forthcoming marriage of their son Daniyar

Dr. Gorshkov-Cantacuzène V.A. on the publication of his book The protection of rights to biotechnological inventions in the European countries of the "Eastern Bloc” ( Moscow: Yurait 2023)

Ovidio Salazar , award-winning filmmaker on directing the first-ever cinematic account of the Hijrah In the Footsteps of the Prophet in July 2022

Dr. Shahina Ghazanfar , honorary research associate at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and a Gibbs Fellow at Newnham College, University of Cambridge on her presentation to the British Omani Society on “Language and Ecology in Southern and Eastern Arabia” in March 2023 and on her exhibition Plants of the Quran at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art in Kew Gardens. Based on her recent publication Plants of the Quran: History and Culture , Shahina presented a lecture at the Pakistan Society in September 2023. She was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science from Cambridge University in October

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Alison Shan Price MBE FRGS on being awarded a Masters in History in March 2023 by Swansea University. Her thesis was entitled What influence did British women Arabists have on the Anglo-Arab relationship in the Middle East (1914-45)? Her thesis offers an insight into the cultural evolution, intercultural collaborations and activism of women Arabists: Gertrude Bell (1868-1926), Freya Stark (1893-1993), Violet Dickson (1896-1991) and Doreen Ingrams (1906-1997) in Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Yemen and Hadhramaut

Jill Hammans on becoming a great grandmother in April when her eldest granddaughter gave birth to James Hamish

Dr. Jan Just Witkam on his online lecture to Princeton in April Lives and Letters: The Correspondence of Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje (1857-1936)

Professor Nile Green (UCLA) on the publication of his recent book How Asia Found Herself: A Story of Intercultural Understanding in April 2023 (Yale University Press) and on presenting a paper at The Worlds of Islam in Asia at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh in November 2023 and on an article Arabic as a South Asian Language in the International Journal of Middle East Studies in February 2023

Dr. Alex Ingrams on his daughter Rosanne's third birthday in May 2023

Paul Hughes-Smith on his 80[th] birthday in May 2023

Lina & Omar Mukharesh on their daughter Lana’s graduation from Harvard Children’s Medical Hospital in Boston and their son-in-law Dr. Mohanad’s graduation from Duke Medical Hospital in North Carolina

Professor Vitaly Naumkin Director Institute of Oriental Studies at The Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow on being appointed Consultant Editor of the Journal of Islamic Studies Oxford

Dr. Willi Steul on the marriage of his son Francois-Joseph to Katerina in June 2023

Yousif Al-Nassar on his Hajj (pilgrimage) in 2023

John Mulholland our LC in USA and Gabriella on their golden wedding anniversary

William Facey on co-editing Diary of a Journey through Inner Arabia, 1883-1884 by Julius Euting (Arabian Publishing May 2024)

Linda Davies on her new book What Every Woman Needs to Know to Create Financial Abundance https://amzn.eu/d/3egNAt4

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Dr. Muhammad Salah al-Qu’aiti on his marriage to Muneera Saleh Mohsin al-Qu’aiti and Ali Salah al-Qu’aiti on his marriage to Manar Abdullah Saleh al Batl in al Qatn in September 2023

Saeed Chinoy on his 82[nd] birthday in September 2023 in Kuala Lumpur

Samaan Rahman on the marriage of his sister Syeda Aisha Rahman in London in November 2023

Sabiha Omar on her golden wedding anniversary

JM Bel on the birth of his granddaughter Jude in Paris in October 2023

Aziz Omar on the publication of his online article and open-access in the Journal of Agriculture and Human Values in September 2023 “Rebalance power and strengthen farmers’ position in the EU food system? A CDA of the Farm to Fork Strategy" https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10460-023-10508-5

Jamie Bowden CMG OBE MVO on his appointment as a Trustee of the British Omani Society

Asma Ibrahim on the launch of her new magazine "al Dar". Al Yamaniah was founded in March 2020 with the aim of championing women of Yemeni heritage working in the creative/cultural space. “We share their work, facilitate opportunities and bring greater awareness about the great talent in our community and the work that is being done. It's very much a diaspora-led project, however we try to ensure all of our content is bilingual - to be as inclusive as possible”. https://alyamaniah.wixsite.com/al yamaniah/home

Martin White , former Manager Eastern Bank Mukalla, on his 95[th] birthday

Ann Grainger on her 80[th] birthday

Christopher Arnander on his 91[st] birthday

Julian Lush on his 90[th] birthday

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NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Barbara Schumacher on her Adventures in KSA published in EURABIA magazine No 4/2022, the quarterly online magazine of the German Arab Society

Aisha Gray Henry introducing Fons Vitae, (USA) to the King Faisal Center in Riyadh in February. She also gave a talk in Washington in October at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art.

Renaud Detalle is the current Representative of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights - Yemen

Ahmed Rashid participated in the Lahore Literary Festival in February 2023

Earl St Andrews attended the coronation of HM King Charles III in May 2023 in Westminster Abbey

Sir Harold Walker KCMG is Honorary Vice President of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs

Elizabeth Ingrams organised the installation of the bust of her mother Rosalind Ingrams, cofounder with her late father Leonard Ingrams of the Garsington Opera in May 2023 at the Wormsley Estate

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HRH Princess Maha al-Faisal organised a seminar on the Arabian Narrative in February 2023 at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh

Please visit artist Caroline Lees website: www.carolinelees.co.uk

Prince Abbas Hilmi was the guest of honour at a seminar organised by The Mohamed Ali Foundation Fellowship Programme at Durham University, attended by FOH Alan Rush and the Treasurer in June 2023

Nael Zafarul Islam is now running a riyad in Marrakesh. All FOH are most welcome https://www.riadlacigale.com/

The 6th International Sir Richard Burton Conference was held on 20th October 2023 at the Diplomatische Akademie in Vienna organised by LC in Italy Mick Walton. Alison Dingle also attended the conference

A memorial to former President Anthony Smith CBE has been installed in the ante-chapel at Magdalen College, Oxford

Yemen artefacts recovered: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/sep/12/v-and-aancient-yemen-stones-stelae-london-museum

Richard Hunt has left Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford and is heading the Foundation at Sherborne, Dorset which is the school’s fundraising arm

Dr. Miranda Morris authored a chapter in a new book entitled Language and Ecology in Southern and Eastern Arabia (Bloomsbury Publishing 2022)

Jean Franco’s grandfather Umberto Nicolini was one of the master painters of Deruta. An exhibition of his work in the Museo Regionale della Ceramica in Deruta, Umbria will run until 6th January 2024 https://www.labottegadelvasaio.com/it

James Firebrace has stepped down as Chairman of the British-Yemeni Society (BYS) after 4 years; he remains involved in both Yemen and the Horn of Africa on issues relating to food security, renewable energy and coping with climate extremes

Tom Stacey’s daughter Tilly Young held an exhibition of her pottery in November 2023

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NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Editor: Muzna al-Qu’aiti . Co-Editor: Rukhsana Rashid .

We welcome comments, suggestions and contributions and reserve the right to edit any material submitted to hadhramaut@btinternet.com

The password for reading newsletters on our website www.hadhramaut.co.uk is frankincense

29 new Friends joined in 2023 from Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, UK, USA and Yemen

Corrigendum

Henry Bridges Molesworth is the artist who painted these scenes of Hadhramaut in 1893. These were wrongly attributed to Theodore Bent in the last FOH Newsletter # 26.

HB Molesworth was born at Woolwich on 7[th] July 1855 and died at his home in Limpsfield Chart on 8[th] February 1954. He was educated at Windermere College and joined Dartmouth as a naval cadet in 1869. He served in the Royal Navy as a midshipman until May 1873. In November 1873 he was appointed as an Assistant Engineer to the Public Works Department in India and served first on the Northern Bengal State Railway and later on the Jhelum-Pindi State Railway during the Second Afghan War. Later on he was appointed District Engineer on the Nizam’s State Railway.

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Comments on Newsletter 26

United Kingdom Sunderland

Worcestershire

London

Stourbridge

Gloucestershire

Wiltshire

Oxfordshire

Germany

Augsburg

Mainz

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Hindelang

Berlin

France

Pyrenees

Paris

Troyes

Norway Oslo

USA

Georgia

Italy Rome

Pakistan

Islamabad

Barbados

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Australia New South Wales

 I am reading your newsletters with great interest and with great admiration for the work of the Friends in one of the most difficult places to do good work

ARCHIVE ON HADHRAMAUT

We ask Friends to contribute short articles for this section and to send us any rare/interesting photographs of the Hadhramaut

Notes by the Master of the Norwegian motor schooner ‘Asp’ on a maiden voyage from Bergen to Foochow 1926-1928. Port Visit to Mukalla February 1927

In 1927 Karl Erik Larsen’s grandfather was a crew member on a Norwegian 2-masted 150-ton schooner called the Asp . This was the first Norwegian vessel ever to call at Mukalla. The crew were invited to the palace to meet Sultan Ghalib’s great-granduncle Sultan Omar bin Awadh al-Qu’aiti. The captain wrote a detailed description in his log on the visit to Mukalla which is reproduced below. (Courtesy Karl Larsen).

The nearest town of any importance was Mukalla, but

according to advice given in Aden, we were not to go near any inhabited places on the Arabian coast under any circumstances, on account of pirates. I decided to take the chance and headed for Mukalla, in the hope to secure kerosene to mix with oil we got in Aden. We still had one of our fuel tanks full of Suez-oil, which was sufficient for five days run, but this was kept in reserve in case of an emergency so we travelled at slow speed to Mukalla. We arrived there in the afternoon of 21 February and stopped close to the landing place.

The place looked rather picturesque as we approached it, and thousands of natives could be seen watching our arrival. In view of the well-meaning warnings received in Aden it was with many misgivings that we received several fully manned canoes which came alongside. Our engine was kept running in readiness should it become necessary to dash out to sea. However, our fears were unfounded, and the friendly and sincere attitude of the officials who boarded us convinced me that no harm would befall us by remaining here, so we dropped anchor.

It was unexpected to see so many large whitewashed stone buildings, which gave the place a modern aspect. The Sultan's palace, which was pointed out to us, was a very conspicuous building, and when I expressed my admiration for the place to the boarding officials, I jokingly told them that we wished to call and pay our respects to the Sultan.

I was not a little surprised when a messenger from the palace came on board and expressed the Sultan's desire to see us, the officers. We hurriedly changed into a decent suit, and with mixed feelings of anticipation and awe followed the messenger ashore.

The Sultan sported a Ford car, and I looked on it as a tie with the outer world. We drove through the main street, running parallel to the beach, which was thronged with natives, who moved out of the way for the Sultan's car; and when they noticed white men in it, they raised

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their eyes in surprise. Herds of sheep and cattle strayed in the street as well and did not heed the royal car. Most of the men carried in their belts a half-round dagger with a fancy handle. At the palace gate, we passed a sentry, naked to the waist, holding an old-fashioned rifle. It looked odd when he presented arms as we rolled into the palace yard. We were met by a young man in European attire who spoke English fluently, apparently some sort of secretary to the Sultan. He led us up a broad staircase to the first floor, and I was struck with the refined look everywhere, revealing good taste. Without further ceremony, we were taken straight into the reception hall, where we met the Sultan. I was surprised as the mental picture I had formed of him was entirely different from the person in front of us. He was very interested in our ship and our experiences, and is a man of knowledge regarding world politics. As for the situation in China he was well informed, and even knew some prominent Chinese generals personally.

The servants brought a tea tray with cups of tea and biscuits. The secretary acted as interpreter, but did not join in the tea. There was another person present, a huge barefooted man, who continually kept looking at us, and I took him to be some sort of bodyguard. After a while, he disappeared, much to my relief, evidently convinced that we had no evil intentions.

I kept the reason for our visit to Mukalla a secret, in case the oil, which I required, should be raised in price. However, inspired by the Sultan's kindness, I confided my trouble to him, and he at once issued instructions to the effect that local dealers were to charge me no more than the market price for supplies of any kind sold to the ship, oil included. This eased my mind considerably, but the quantity of oil obtainable was not sufficient for our requirements.

After tea, we were taken out for a drive to the Sultan's bungalow, which was situated up in the hills, among the date-groves. The bungalow was vacant at the time, and it was amusing to walk round the many different rooms and apartments belonging to the harem ladies. The existence of a harem had not entered my mind, but in the matter-of-fact way it was explained by the Secretary I realised that the possession of some half-a-hundred women was considered a necessity in life for a man of the Sultan's standing. The giant who had embarrassed me on my arrival at the palace with his persisting stare was, I understood, a eunuch.

The town's fresh-water supply came from a lake in the vicinity of the bungalow, through a pipe. This had to be watched continually by armed guardsmen owing to the hostility of a neighbouring tribe, with whom the Sultan was at war. The population of Mukalla was about 25,000, and the chief communication with the world was by means of a coastal steamer, which called every fortnight on its way to Aden. The Sultan entertained the idea of having a wireless station erected, also the foundation of a modern hospital, which was badly needed.

When on the point of going ashore the next morning, I was surprised at receiving a present from His Highness consisting of four beautiful gazelles, two tins of honey and many bananas. The gazelles had recently arrived on a dhow from Africa, and they were therefore quite at home on board a ship. I did not really know how to return in a befitting manner such a royal compliment.

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Our greatest trouble in Mukalla was to keep friendly visitors away, but when this was brought to the Sultan's notice, (not by us) he immediately dispatched some of his guardsmen to the ship to maintain order.

When leaving Mukalla the foredeck of the Asp resembled a farmyard more than a ship, with our numerous livestock - composed of four gazelles, one goat, two pigs, two dogs, a cat and a monkey - amidst bundles of hay.

I wrote him a letter of thanks and sent him a photograph in remembrance of the first Norwegian vessel, which had visited his port.

To this, I received a reply as follows, together with his photograph in full-dress uniform.

To, The Captain, Norwegian vessel Asp, at Mukalla Mukalla, Arabia 22/2/27

Dear Sir, . I am sending to you my photo as a token of remembrance. Please accept it and I shall be glad if you will keep it in your good vessel. With best compliments Yours sincerely Sultan Omar Bin Awad AIQuaity

An old map showing Hadhramaut from the New Relief Atlas (Circa 1880)

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Ghail BaWazir Summer Palace

The Qu’aiti summer palace visited by HAR Philby in 1939

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----- Start of picture text -----
Ghail BaWazir Gateway
******
----- End of picture text -----

Qasr al-Azhar

This palace, known as Qasr al-Azhar, was built by Munassar bin Abdullah bin Omar bin Awadh al-Qu'aiti in the 1890s in the fertile town of Ghail BaWazir, famous for its gardens and tobacco plantations. After its conversion to Madrasah al-Wusta in 1944, it is now a museum.

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Madrasah al-Wusta

Restoration of Al-Ghuwaizi Fort

Al-Ghuwaizi Fort, one of the historical landmarks of Hadhramaut

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The Quaiti Armed Constabulary Shibam 1963

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Jim Maxwell

Jim Maxwell has assembled 45 slides illustrating A Tour of South Arabia 1960 : “We boarded our ship Dilwara from Southampton Docks on 20[th] April 1960. Colour film was purchased in Gibraltar and we sailed on to the Suez Canal after a stop at Famagusta in Cyprus, waiting at Port Said for the south bound convoy, and finally into the Red Sea landing at Aden some 12 days later. After a 2 week wait for a flight, I landed at RAF Riyan, which was my home for the next 12 months. I left Riyan in 1961 in an Aden Airways Dakota and the flight home from Aden landed at Stanstead Airport. My designation was Ground Radar Fitter”. The list of slides can be viewed at FOH List of Jim Maxwell Slides.pdf and the photographs are accessible on the FOH website: https://hadhramaut.co.uk/gallery/ . There are also links on both Facebook and Instagram.

Pictures of the RAF Riyan tie . It was not official as Riyan was a part of RAF Khormaksar. An enterprising airman contacted a Macclesfield tie manufacturer as a private venture. The design was inspired by a watercolour of a vulture perched on a signpost marked "To Riyan" hanging in the Signals Office.

----- Start of picture text -----
Jim Maxwell aged 22 Wadi Hadhramaut Jim Maxwell aged 85, Chester UK
----- End of picture text -----

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ITEMS FOR SALE

The items listed below are for sale from the FOH registered address

English bone china mugs with FOH logo at £10 each or £18 for 2

Photograph courtesy David Halford

David Shepherd’s signed print of Mukalla (1960) is for sale as a result of a very kind donation by Owain Raw-Rees. Any offers above £300 are welcome. All proceeds to FOH. Please contact the Treasurer.

Mick Walton has donated copies of Sir Richard Burton and his Circle at £10 each, the proceeds of which he will donate to FOH: mickwalton@libero.it

Copies of Hadhramaut and its Diaspora: Yemeni Politics, Identity and Migration (ed. Dr. Noel Brehony) at £25 each

David Grainger has donated 3 sets of The Geologic Evolution of Saudi Arabia, A Voyage Through Space and Time to FOH at £50 per set (published Saudi Geological Survey 2007)

A metal/enamel lapel badge produced by Thomas Fattorini Ltd and designed by Owain Raw-Rees at £5 each

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FOH ANNUAL ACCOUNTS

Our audited accounts and official returns (as required by UK law) are prepared by the Treasurer and presented to the Charity Commissioner online by her, after an Independent Examination by Geoff Calvert OBE. The accounts may be inspected on the Charity Commission’s website: www.charitycommission.gov.uk

GIFT AID

Gift Aid is extremely valuable to FOH and may be claimed only on unencumbered donations upon which the donor has paid UK Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax at least equal to the amount of Gift Aid claimed in the relevant tax year.

WANTED

Local Coordinators for Australia, India and Spain

Expert author required for article on Yemeni/Hadhrami textiles for the Journal of the Oriental Rug and Textile Society of Great Britain: https://www.orientalrugandtextilesociety.org.uk/ Please contact Fiona Kerlogue: fkerlogue@gmail.com

A Night of Yemeni Short Films Project

Asma Ibrahim has asked FOH to find sponsors for her film initiative: asmai4561@gmail.com

This project is being organised by Al Yamaniah in partnership with Yemen Art Base and Yemen Creative Hubs (who are funded by the Goethe-Institut and the European Union). The project is an effort to celebrate both early-career and established filmmakers. The objectives behind this initiative are to provide a chance for Yemeni filmmakers to show case their work abroad and to allow foreign audiences to engage with and appreciate Yemeni culture and storytelling.

The inaugural screening took place at the Garden Cinema in London in October. There are confirmed screenings in Beirut, Aden, Al Mukalla and the Arab American National Museum. In terms of the actual screening event itself, we can do all the remote work but we need logistical support on the ground. We only have a physical presence in a few select places like London so the support we need is a venue and setting up the event on the day. From our end, we can provide all the necessary information: a full programme in both English and Arabic, subtitles in the appropriate languages, social media posters, advertising etc.

We do not have any funding for this so ideally we can partner up with a venue/cultural centre that is interested in making this part of their programme (a 50/50 split on ticket sales is fine) and through links to universities or similar institutions where a student/staff member can book an appropriate room for the screening without charge. The Mukalla screening will take place in collaboration with Madarat Cultural Organisation in December. https://alyamaniah.wixsite.com/al-yamaniah/al-dar-short-films-from-yemen

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FUTURE EVENTS Our Patrons Jol]n and Patricia Ducker hosted their first garden paty for FOH in 2014. They will now be hosting a second Summer Garden Party at Ampney Crucis, Gloucestershire, England on Saturday 27 July 2024. Further details will be sent in the spring. CONTACT DETAILS FRIENDS OF HADHRA￿u[. Registered Charity No. 1062560 Address: 48 Richmond Park Road, London SW14 &JT UK Telephone: +44 (0) 2083929823 (The telephone is not always atlended," messages may be lefl and are dealt with regularly) Email: hadhramaut btinterneLcom Website: Ivww.hadhramaut.co.uk Facebook: htt s:l/m.facebook.comlFrRendsofHadhramaut/ Instagram: friendsofhadhramaut Please make all cheques payable to "Friends of Hadhramaut" Sterlin Account Virgin Money United Kingdom Account name: Friends of Hadhramaut Sort Code: 821107 Account Number: 60572139 IBAN: GB35CLYD82110760572139 BIC: CLYDGB21943 Life Subscription: £25 or The account accepts ALL currencies which are transferred online.

FRIENDS OF HADHRAMAUT Registered Charity No. 1062560 Sterling Income and Expenditure 2023 INCOME Brought forward from 2022 (NATWEST AIC Closed Dec 2022) 21,895.43 650.00 38,820.85 Subscriptions Donations TOTAL INCOME 61J66.28 EXPEIYDITURE Administration Stationery Printing and Photocopying Postage Phone calls Transportation Piirchases for Osjo event Webmaster and computer service Bank Charges Transfers to Yement Rtals (VKce-Chatmiart's Account} 308.53 284.62 343.66 202.74 323.21 36.36 230.00 18.40 23,371.69 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 25,119.21 INCOME LESS EXPENDITURE: Balance at 31.12.2023 36,247.07 SULTANA FS AL-QUAITI MBE TREASURER

Independent Examiner's Report on the accounts of The Friends of Hadhramaut (Registered Charity Number 1062560) for the year to 315t December 2023 I, Geoff Calvert of Garden Flat, 16 Bolton Gardens, London SW5 OAJ, confimi that I have st examined the accounts of The Friends of Hadhramaut for the year ending 31 December 2023 under Section 43 of the 1993 Act and in accordance with the general direction by the Charity Commissioners. I examined the Sterling, Euro and Yemeni Rial accounts. The preparation of the charity's accounts is the responsibility of the Trustees. They have asked me to conduct an independent examination and the accounts will not be audited, as is appropriate for a charity of this size. I confirni the accounts have been prepared by the Trustees on a receipts and payments basis and have no reason to doubt their accuracy. I am qualified to be the Independent Examiner of the charity after a career in financial services. j e411 C'.1 Geoff Calvert OBE July 3, 2024