| Description | Typed transcript of pp.1-58 of Belgrave's diary for 1 January to 28 April 1956. Topics covered include the sacking of Maguire of the police force (4 January), followed by resignation of Hills (8 January), visit from James Morris of the Times (5-11 January), departure of John Barkhurst of Bapco after 18 years in Bahrain (14 January), death of one of the young shaikhs in a car accident (20-21 January) and another fatal accident caused by a government medic, Hanvey (26 January, 21 February), event at the Pearl Cinema for Indians commemorating the anniversary of their constitution (26 January), painting and photography (10 February), another fatal car accident during a motor club rally (10 February), elections for the School Committee won by more anti-government candidates (11 February), opening of new TB hospital (15 February), visit from John Selby (18-20 February), meeting with the US ambassador to Turkey and other guests of the Thornburgs at Om as Sabaan (23 February), discussions about Gulf Aviation and BOAC (27 February), attack on the motorcade containing Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd, followed by further demonstrations, for which Belgrave blamed the (HEC) 'Higher Executive Committee' (2 March), printed demands for Belgrave's dismissal published by the HEC (4 March), writing activities of Roderick Owen (6 March), another violent demonstration which resulted in five men being shot dead by police (11 March) followed by a general strike, more unrest, stoning and burning of cars, along with demands for Belgrave's departure (12-15 March), departure of H.R. Bakr (23 March), unhappiness at a personal piece on 'The Boss of Bahrain' that appeared in the weekend's Sunday Times as well as sensational media reports in the Express (27-28 March, 8 April), discussion with Geoffrey Bibby about archaeological finds (31 March), visit from six MPs - three Conservative and three Labour (7 April), and a cinema visit to watch 'Simba' about the Mau Mau in Kenya, which Belgrave was also reading about in a novel (23 April). |