Tributes are pouring in for a top businessman who recently died leaving behind a legacy of having helped organise some of the kingdom’s top events.
Neville De Souza passed away aged 78 at the King Hamad University Hospital last Thursday after a hard-fought nine-month-long battle with pancreatic cancer.
“My father taught me everything I know about the events business,” his son Luke told the GDN.
“One of my favourite memories of him was working on the Spring of Culture festivals and learning how to construct a purpose-built venue from scratch at Arad Fort and then later in Bahrain Bay.”
Mr De Souza Snr leaves behind a professional legacy of supporting major acts in Bahrain like John Legend, Rita Ora, Eric Clapton and UB40, as well as a personal one rooted in humour and storytelling.
Born on August 2, 1947, Mr De Souza Snr spent his childhood in Kenya before moving to the UK, where he completed his engineering degree and began his career.
“He first arrived in Bahrain in the mid-1970s and quickly made it his home,” his daughter Natalie added.
Mr De Souza Snr met his wife, well-known vet Nonie Coutts, in Bahrain and they married in the late 1970s.
After beginning his career at the Bapco refinery in Awali, he went on to start his own company AVL Concepts.
“It was a fitting venture for a man who loved bringing people together through events and entertainment, creating occasions that would be remembered long after the lights went down,” Natalie added.
His exceptional organisation skills and engineering abilities were reflected in the many wonderful events his company produced.
“Some of these include the annual Spring of Culture festival and Pearling Path events like noted Italian singer Andrea Bocelli’s concert.”
Mr De Souza Snr and his wife embraced the Bahraini way of life, cherishing the friendships, opportunities, warmth and sense of community that the kingdom offered, during their 50-plus years on the island.
The couple raised three children – Luke, Sean and Natalie – as well as many cherished pets over the years.
“My dad Neville was such a good father,” Natalie added. “He supported his kids in anything they loved, and for me that was riding horses.
“He wasn’t the biggest fan of horses but he certainly made the most of the horse shows when he attended. He would come with Mum and me to the various dusty stables every weekend I was competing here in Bahrain and video my show-jumping rounds.
“In between, he was always chatting and sharing a laugh with the other spectators
and competitors.
“You could take Dad anywhere and he would make friends and find something to entertain himself.
“Some of my favourite memories are of my parents with me at horse shows as a kid and I am so glad I got to have my daddy with me on those days.”
For his son Sean, the bond with his father centred on boats.
“My whole childhood was basically spent with him on the weekends, preparing his beloved boat and helping him entertain a steady stream
of friends,” he added.
“I would feel so key to the process of grabbing ropes, jumping onto pontoons, starting generators, switching switches etc, all of which was perfect father-son bonding time before the weekend festivities began.
“I also distinctly remember Dad turning up at my friend’s houses – early on a Friday after a sleepover – to take me to help me on the boat, which was something I didn’t appreciate then, but now see was precious time that just he and I spent together.”
As a natural raconteur, Mr De Souza Snr had a treasure chest of tales, each a little more polished, more colourful, and more entertaining with every retelling.
“I have known Neville for almost 30 years,” close friend and GDN columnist Jackie Beedie added.
“He remained a lovely friend for all those years. Then just over a year ago, when I came back to live in Bahrain, he offered me the job of managing Platinum Tower in Seef as he was the chairman of the owners’ association.
“He was a gentleman to work for and we had a few laughs along the way. He will be sorely missed.”
A celebration of Mr Neville De Souza’s life will be held on Thursday, June 18, from 6pm to 9pm at Villa 50 on Avenue 11 in Saar.
The family request that all those who attend bring a photograph or their favourite memory of him, instead of flowers or gifts.
naman@gdnmedia.bh
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