Whilst building models of dhows is the normal business of Abdulla Buzaboon in Muharraq suq (it is highly commendable to see Bahraini heritage being preserved), I have brought a pair of antique dhows for his expert care and restoration from my parents’ home in Cornwall.

There is an Al Banoosh and an Al Jaboot. These were bought by my father in the 1960s. The dhows had deteriorated to such an extent that their rigging had completely collapsed and became a tangled mess.

The decks had originally been covered with superb varnished wood. However over the years Cornish wood worm and the damp air had caused the varnish finish to crumble, whilst the wood underlying it split and cracked.

The miniature wire fish trap pots (which had dried fish in them when new) had twisted and rusted away.

Now the two dhows proudly fly the Bahrain flag above their decks and are ready to travel once more to their new home in the UK (via Dubai where I live now)!

My parents would have been very proud to see these wonderful model boats being restored as they were constant reminders of the wonderful days they had spent in Bahrain.

However they are no longer alive having died in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

My father (Jimmy) was a pilot with Gulf Aviation from 1961 until 1980, before that he was in the Royal Navy and had a natural affinity for sailing craft in Bahrain, as a member of the Bahrain Yacht Club (previously the Manama Sailing Association).

My mother (Joy) was an artist and designer (of the first Gulf Aviation cabin crew uniforms in 1967 and Gulf Air’s first cabin crew uniform in 1973), as well as an art teacher at St Christopher’s School in the 70s.

Michael Stokes