Former Radio Bahrain personality Ian Fisher, known to his army of housewife fans as ‘The Fish’, today bids farewell to the island he has called home for more than half a century.
The 60-year-old broadcaster will land in lockdowned London confident he will not feel like a fish out of water in a country that may have been the place he was born but until now has never been his ‘home’.
Mr Fisher arrived in Bahrain as a four-year-old child 56 years ago. His wife, Rosemary Lee, an English language and HR consultant, spent 30 years here but left last week to set up home for them in Hampshire. They packed up all their belongings from their Riffa villa in search of better business opportunities in the UK.
“I would like to say goodbye to all the people I met, either in person or through the airways while I was at Radio Bahrain,” said Mr Fisher.
“You have been a constant joy and a source of inspiration over the many years I was broadcasting. I will miss you all. Keep optimistic. The current situation cannot last forever and be prepared for change, in whatever way it comes. Don’t hang on till the bitter end.”
Adjustment
Mr Fisher, who moved to the kingdom in 1964 with his family after his father Don started working at Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), accepts that living in the UK will need a lifestyle adjustment.
“It will be a complete culture shock,” he said. “I had no idea I would be living in Bahrain as long as I have. I will miss the people as they are all so open and welcoming.
“I will miss the cosmopolitan lifestyle and the ability to get virtually anything you want. The suq and the shops are a treasure trove for getting that object or item that you need. I will miss having almost everything at my fingertips available from all over the world.
But things change and you have to move with the changes. This last year has been particularly challenging, for obvious reasons. I’m leaving because there is no work.”
After a lifetime on Radio Bahrain, Mr Fisher found a new career as an adult English language teacher, audiobook narrator and lounge quiz host. The Covid-19 crisis put paid to that.
“Education is in turmoil as well as the hotel business,” he said. “Unfortunately, Bahrain can be an expensive place to live if you don’t have a steady source of income.”
Mr Fisher, who graduated from Awali high school, says one of his fondest memories was meeting the late Amir, HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman al Khalifa, at Eid Al Fitr as a child. “My father always took myself and my brothers to the palace at Eid to pay our respects,” he explained.
In 1978, he joined Radio Bahrain starting off in the library, running errands and taking requests.
DJ ‘The Fish’ grabbed every broadcasting opportunity that came his way and soon found himself fronting different shows, including the coveted Breakfast Show.
One of the highlights of his career included announcing the Gulf War to listeners. “I was doing my first show from midnight till 6am when just before 3am I received a call from Dr Hala Al Omran, the Under-Secretary to the Minister of Information,” said Mr Fisher.
“She told me: ‘Announce that the war has started, there is an air raid over Baghdad’.”
In the days before the Internet, listeners were glued to their radio sets for information, day and night, and Mr Fish took over the ‘graveyard’ shift for the duration of the Gulf War from midnight to 6am.
Another memorable moment was interviewing the Crown Prince at the first Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in 2004.
Narrating
Mr Fisher left the station suddenly after 40 continuous years on the airwaves in 2018, with two other regular presenters, in a station reshuffle and shortly after began narrating audiobooks.
Last year he was among a group of media personalities who were awarded a prize for their outstanding contributions to the profession by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
He aims to continue with this once he settles down in Hampshire. He said: “I will set up a soundproof booth and get back to recording and producing audiobooks. I currently have 18 on sale through Audible, Amazon and iTunes and two more are awaiting final approval. Also, I have been in touch with an international company for online teaching and will be working on that as well.”
Fisher has been teaching English as a foreign language for several years at various institutes in Bahrain. He thanks the teachers and students he met, members of Manama Theatre Club which his wife was a founding member of, and all the friends he made through gourmet dining club Chaine des Rotisseurs, Bahrain Round Table and the Bahrain Marathon Relay.
He is also thankful to all those who came to his quizzes, parties or karaoke nights and the many biker friends who helped keep him ‘sane’ for many years.
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