The Abu Dhabi Big band had a gig at The British Embassy tonight in commemoration of The Queen’s birthday. We were just providing background music while the assembled great and good of Abu Dhabi quaffed champagne and ate canapes. It was also the first public engagement for the newly installed British Ambassador, Dominic Jermey OBE. The leading local dignitary was H.H. Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of HIgher Education and Scientific Research. The Ambassador gave a speech which he started quite eloquently (or so it seemed to me) in Arabic, which was quite impressive.
There were lots of military types there in their regalia and one of them proposed toasts to a) Sheikh Khalifa and b) The Queen , but asked out of respect to the local customs and traditions to use non-alcoholic drinks!
They had on display a restored Aston Martin DB5 that has been doing the road in Abu Dhabi over the last couple of weeks. It is definitely a beautiful car. I’m afraid my camera phone doesn’t do it justice.
All in all quite a good night.
Next gig Friday night at The Club.
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