UAE Branch Secretary, Dirk van Doorn (1988W) reports:
A total of 7 OD’s showed up with some that I had not seen before in the UAE.
A number of OD’s sent there apologies and could not attend due to work commitments or travel commitments. That is not unusual in the UAE as a number of OD’s travel for work.
The get together took place at the iconic Dubai Creek and Yacht Club at the Club House overlooking the 18^th hole as well as the Dubai Creek with the gleaming towers of steel and glass in the background.
It was great to see a number of younger OD’s joining the get together. Some of them have been in the UAE and Gulf for some time. Other OD’s have been recent additions to the UAE with one having only spent 4 months in Dubai.
Some of the stories that came out during the night about what some of the lads got up to at Bishops in their youth evoked fond memories and was cause for a lot of laughter. There was also good debate around the interview with Johan Rupert on Power FM that was recently held in South Africa.
 
It has been suggested that a more informal, impromptu and fun get together be arranged in future. In order to support this a ODU Middle East Whats App group was created to encourage more interaction between OD’s. We ask that OD’s in the Middle East join the group and thus extend the network beyond the confines of the UAE and across the Middle East.  If they wish to be added all they need to do is send me an email with the mobile number thy wish to receive updates on.
 
We managed to raise some funds for the HM Fund and received donations from Graeme Low and Dirk S. van Doorn
 
It appears that everyone had fun as the group only dispersed shortly before the witching hour.