Goodbye Awali!

The sounds of children's laughter echoed across the playground as one of Bahrain's favourite schools staged a special "farewell picnic party" on Sunday for pupils and parents.

There were no tears of sorrow as the youngsters at Awali enjoyed music and merriment in the form of bouncy castles and food stalls although parents and friends could not help but reminisce with lumps in their throats when the poignant Last Post was played by brass teacher, Andy Holman.

He told GulfWeekly: "I think it was a way to show respect to things in the past. Today's performance was a tricky one."

Mr Holman lives in A'ali with his wife, Lis, a music teacher at the school. The building has served the Bapco community for 61 years and St Christopher's youngest pupils for almost 10.

Mrs Latifa Rasheed, 37, an administrator at the senior school, has close connections to the Awali institution as have many families in the kingdom and those now living around the world.

Her son Khalid, age three, is a nursery pupil, and her elder children Ayesha, 11, and Mohammed, six, also attended the school. Mrs Rasheed said: "I studied in Awali in the mid 70s and 80s and it has not changed at all - it has the same friendly atmosphere it had then.

"I can't imagine it closing down, it's upsetting. Awali holds so many memories and it will definitely stay in our hearts.

"My brothers and sisters also studied here and this was our second home. We used to always hang around the playgrounds in the afternoons and after school too. In fact, even my father had been to Awali when he was 14 and while working at Bapco.

"I have always wanted to have my children study here and I am glad all three of them got a chance before it closed down."

Jawaher Fakhroo, 29, from Riffa, a consultant at Alba, also has a three-year-old at the school, daughter Latifa.

She said: "We feel sad that we are going to leave the school. It's like one big family here and a close-knit community.

"I have always wanted my daughter to study here as I knew they would look after her well. I am speechless about it closing down."

Julia Browning, 40, from Saar, said her son, Luke, six, has absolutely loved attending the school. She added: "We are really disappointed as nothing compares to Awali. Everyone is so friendly and the teachers are really good."

Mrs Jo Elington, 41, has two children, Oliver, nine, and Eddie, seven.

She said: "Awali has a community feel and it is really sad that it must close as it's been around for so long. All the kids and the teachers know each other so well."

In January the children and staff will relocate to St. Christopher's newly-built Saar campus.