A high-flying graduate of Bradford College flew in for a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

Talal Almahmood, who works for Gulf Air, returned to Bradford more than 15 years after he first arrived from his native Bahrain to study travel and tourism.

The dad-of-four was just 18 years of age when decided to move abroad to study and chose the West Yorkshire city following the recommendation of a family friend.

Between 2000 and 2005 he completed a Travel and Tourism Management degree and Masters in Marketing Practice.

Now the manager of communications and sponsorship at Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Talal was fascinated during a recent visit to the UK to see how Bradford College and the city itself had changed since his student days.

He said: “It is lovely to come back and see how the place has changed. I have very happy memories of being a student in Bradford. It made me a better person and helped get me where I am today.

“I had most of my lessons in the Westbrook Building, which does not exist anymore. The David Hockney Building, which has replaced it, is very impressive. It is a world-class facility.

“I am still in touch with many friends I made at Bradford College. We worked hard for our exams and assignments but we had fun too.

“As a teenager, I wanted to travel abroad to study. My dad had done a course in the UK in the 1960s and often spoke about the country, which made me want to come here. My father’s friend’s son was studying in Bradford in 1999 so I asked him about his experience and the following year I came here.

“It was a good decision. I got a valuable qualification from a respected institution and it has served me well, helping me reach my current position with Gulf Air, which flies to many destinations around the world including London, but not yet to Leeds-Bradford. Maybe one day.”

The former student was also impressed by how the city had changed since he arrived as a teenager.

He added: "City Park and the Broadway are beautiful. The city is transformed. As students, we used to go to Leeds to shop and for entertainment. Now, everything is here.”