OREANDA-NEWS. August 08, 2012. About 100 retirees from all over the United Kingdom, and the world, gathered in Cardiff, Wales, for the fourth Ukaramcons Retiree Reunion, reported the press-centre of Saudi Aramco.

The retirees, some of whom came from as far away as Australia, got together to catch up with one another and maintain communication with Saudi Aramco through its representatives at Aramco Overseas Co. (AOC). They embraced old friends, shared stories of past times and new prospects and toured the historic surroundings of Cardiff City.

It was the first time in two years most of the retirees had been able to reunite and reminisce about their lives as Aramcons. They shared laughs and tales of friendships; chatted about old colleagues, work assignments, family updates and, rather importantly, just how much their lives had been enriched and shaped by being part of the Saudi Aramco family.

The reunion was sponsored by AOC. Among the weekend events were a tour of the city, a golf tournament, a barbecue and a reunion dinner.

Attending the Saturday evening dinner were two guests of honor, one of whom was Jamal S. Omar from the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). He expressed his delight in being at the event, which gave him the opportunity to speak on behalf of the SCTA about the program to repatriate Saudi cultural objects.

Omar said the campaign to return cultural antiquities comes under the umbrella of the Cultural Diminution Initiative, which was proposed and launched by SCTA president HRH Prince Sultan ibn Salman.

The event’s other guest of honor was Ali Al-Balushi, founder of the Saudi Aramco retiree reunion gatherings. Al-Balushi updated guests on the huge advancements and developments in Saudi Arabia.

Martin Wingrove from AOC in The Netherlands told guests "Whether from England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales, and whether we lived in Abqaiq, Dhahran, Ras Tanura or 'Udhailiyah, we are all members of the Ukaramcon family."

As events drew to a close, there was an obvious appreciation for the chance to meet once again and a buzz of anticipation and excitement to see one another in 2014.