BBBF hosts the Chelsea Pensioners

Manama, Nov. 9 (BNA): The Bahrain British Business Forum (BBBF) is hosting three of Britain’s war heroes in the Kingdom of Bahrain over the Remembrance Day. The heroes will be welcomed by BBBF Chairman, Khalid Al Zayani, and members of the BBBF Committee. The Chelsea Pensioners will lay the traditional Remembrance Day poppy wreath on the 11th November, in a memorial service attended by Simon Martin, British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain. A one minute’s silence shall be observed, marking the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month (11am, 11th November), marking the time (in the United Kingdom) when armistice became effective in 1918. "The Chelsea Pensioners" – as they have commonly become known due to their residence in the Royal Hospital in Chelsea in the United Kingdom – fall under the auspices of the Royal British Legion, a UK charity that provides financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces, and their dependents. As the UK’s Custodian of Remembrance, the Legion is leading Britain in respecting the sacrifices of the First World War, and is the UK’s largest Armed Forces charity, providing direct care and support to Armed Forces and veteran families in need. This year’s Pensioners are Staff Sergeant, James Anderson, 79; Late Piper Major, Michael Shanahan, 69; and Late Sergeant, Louis John Back, 76. The Chelsea Pensioners visits to Bahrain have become an annual tradition, and Khalid Al Zayani, Chairman of the Bahrain British Business Forum, noted that this would not be possible without the support of local businesses. "The Pensioners greatly enjoy their visits to Bahrain and always comment on the hospitality and warm welcome they receive here. I would like to thank those who have supported this year, including British Airways, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Gulf Brands International, Euro Motors and BIC. The support of the community allows us to give the Pensioners a memorable experience which they take back and share with their countrymen, thereby promoting a positive image of Bahrain – something which is at the heart of the BBBF mission," he commented.