Jehangir Dhunjeeshaw Patel was born in Surat, India in February 1910 and attained the grand old age of 94 before he passed away in Bombay in March 2004. Jehangir was the proprietor of the British Colonial Stores in The Crescent, at Steamer Point. You can read more about the business and see more images here.

"My father's family were in Aden for four generations. I was born in Aden and grew up there, although I was sent off to school in Bombay when I was 6 yrs old, I did spend a year or so at the Franciscan Convent at Steamer Point before then. I have many happy memories of Christmas holidays in Aden."                                    Noshir Patel, UK

Jehangir Patel's Railway Bungalow

Jehangir did not own any property himself in Aden, perhaps partly related to his father's financial circumstances, who had lost a lot of money from property he owned in Asmara and a salt works in Masawa.

Jehangir lived with his parents, siblings, wife and his own children in a railway bungalow owned by his father. Jehangir's son, Noshir, always regarded the bungalow as home, although the family later moved to a small flat just across the road from the Customs House, opposite the P&O office.

The railway bungalow was the Patel family home till they all finally left Aden.

Jehangir Patel's Railway Bungalow

Jehangir loved his Studebakers -  he had two in succession, (photo to follow) but for some reason they became unavailable in Aden and in the 1950's he bought a dark blue Opel Kapitan; one with a round roof, rather like a much larger version of the Volkswagen Beetle. In the 60's he had a smaller Opel Kadett (the German version of the Vauxhall Viva) in which his son, Noshir, learnt to drive when he was 16.

Whilst visiting his son, Noshir, and his brother in London in 1967 he was advised by those still in Aden not to return, for reasons of safety.  Many shopkeepers had already been arrested and interned. The extended family gradually made their way to Bombay, allowed only a very limited amount of baggage. The British Colonial Stores had to be locked up and left.

Q. Why do we see Patel sometimes spelt with one L and sometimes two? A.  Most Parsees spell it with 2  Ls to distinguish themselves from the other Indian Patels.  Jehangir Patel thought it was rather pretentious and unnecessary and preferred the single L.

Jehangir's maternal uncle,  Dara H. Patell was the owner of Express Photo Service which was at the end of The Crescent in Steamer Point, opposite the Prince of Wales Pier.