To mark the visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, of Conservatives Abroad Chairman Mrs Heather Harper MBE, a reception was held in the garden of the residence of Conservatives Abroad – Bahrain Representative Michael McKinlay and his wife Heather McKinlay. Amongst the guests were HE Khalid Rashid Al Zayani OBE, Hon. Chairman Al Zayani Investments and Mrs Sana Al Zayani, and forty-five Conservatives Abroad Members, their guests, and friends of Conservatives Abroad – Bahrain.
On introducing Heather to all reception attendees and welcoming her back to Bahrain, mention was made of Heather’s prior close links with Bahrain going back to the 1980s when she lived in Bahrain with her late husband and children whilst working in media. Michael also spoke briefly about Heather’s journey since being appointed to the Chair of Conservatives Abroad and gave thanks to the local support provided by Mark Gravener, John Skinner, Mark Carpenter, Ed Brown, and Heather McKinlay. In responding Heather Harper expressed her appreciation to all for welcoming her and spoke of her pleasure in returning to Bahrain and outlined the ‘Votes for Life’ progress and her role to broaden the membership of Conservatives Abroad now approaching 114 geographic groups. On completion Heather took questions from attendees covering such matters as the challenge of catching the eye of Conservative Party Ministers and Parliamentarians who travel to Bahrain, so that on the sidelines they may meet Conservatives Abroad members in Bahrain, and despite the warmer-than-anticipated Arabian Gulf evening, Heather took time to greet all who attended on a one-on-one basis.
This second function in 5 months for the Conservative Party’s Bahrain group was deemed another success.
