Celebratory Dinner - The Nasir, Bekri, Tayi and Lawrence Tribute Trek - 15 May 2025

An unforgettable evening in London – Thanks to our Saudi supporters

After my moving trip to Jordan and the impressive encounters with the Jordanian representatives who made a significant contribution to the realization of the Lawrence Trek, it was now time to officially thank our Saudi partners for their support.

To mark the occasion, the Special Forces Club Benevolent Fund hosted a celebratory dinner at the venerable Stationers' Hall in the heart of London—a venue perfectly suited for such a special occasion. It was an extraordinary honor for me to be able to attend this distinguished evening.

The guest list was truly impressive: senior members of the Special Forces Club, dedicated friends and generous sponsors of the trek were present, as was the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the UK, HRH Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud , and Lord Sedwill , former National Security Advisor of the UK and a supporter of the project since its inception.

A personal highlight for me was meeting Richard Hammond , the legendary presenter of Top Gear and The Grand Tour . As a passionate car fan, I've followed his shows with great enthusiasm for years – meeting him in person in this festive setting was a very special pleasure. Incidentally, Howard is also the happy owner of a Lawrence watch engraved with his initials (he's holding it in his hands right now...)

The highlight of the evening, however, was the charity auction , with proceeds going to the Special Forces Club Benevolent Fund. Exclusive trek memorabilia was auctioned, including a very special piece: our specially designed homage to the historic Lawrence watch , as worn by T.E. Lawrence—better known as "Lawrence of Arabia"—during his original trek.

We've already reported extensively on this unique project, but what happened that evening exceeded all expectations: Right from the start of the auction, bids skyrocketed – 5,000, 6,000, 10,000 pounds. The tension in the room was palpable. Then a thrilling bidding duel ensued, the likes of which one rarely sees. The result: Our watch fetched an incredible hammer price of 30,000 pounds ! (I met the lucky man, of course, and he told me he would have gone for 50,000 pounds !!)

The cheers in the hall were overwhelming. Congratulations poured in from all directions – a testament to the deep emotional and historical connection this project has evoked. And the best part: every single pound went to the club's charitable work.

After this emotional climax, the mood at the bar was appropriately exuberant – people laughed, toasted, and talked about shared experiences. The evening was a fitting conclusion to a journey that began in October of last year and now reached its brilliant climax in May.

My sincere thanks go to all the organizers, helpers, and supporters who made this extraordinary journey possible. I would especially like to thank Howard , the dedicated organizer of the trek—perhaps there will be a sequel in 2026 .

The Lawrence Trek lives on – as a bridge between cultures, as a symbol of friendship and as an expression of shared commitment to a good cause.