Dear Members and friends,

In 2012 in preparation for the Education Conference, the inestimable Dina Soliman Pedersen revised our website to great acclaim. However, time moves on and in an age of technology you can’t stand still. So, our new media coordinator, the young and highly talented Youssef El Shaikh, has picked it up and given it a shake out. I do hope you like the website and that you find it “user friendly”.

We ended last year with an excellent Sir Michael Weir Lecture by H.E. Mr. Amre Moussa. He spoke to a packed audience, so many that I was a relieved a few didn’t turn up and freed up some seats I had overbooked. The website shows a selection of photographs taken by Youssef’s much more attractive sister, Aya, who I hope can take photographs at more of our events.

2016 kicked off with a Private View at the British Museum of “Egypt: Faith after the Pharaohs”. This was extremely well attended and much enjoyed, despite two of our members being directed by a rather officious guard to the wrong entrance. We do appreciate the support given to us by the BM and I am happy to advise that they have given us a Private View of “Sunken City: Egypt’s Lost World” in the 2nd week of September. Details later.

I am working on other events including a Literary evening on 14th March at the Army and Navy Club which will include the Countess of Carnarvon, Professor Doris Abou Seif Behrens and Dr. Gerhard Behrens plus Emmanuel Garcia, a very talented Chilean Guitarist. I am working on a visit to Turin on 1st to 4th April to see that recently renovated and spectacular Egyptian Museum plus the Museum of the Holy Shroud and a fil\museum, plus a debate with a “This House believes……………”, at the end of April.

There are other items in the melting pot and, for members on email, I do forward details of events organised by other societies and our friends at the Egyptian Cultural Centre.

As usual, If any of you have ideas about events you would like us to put on, just let me know (noelrands@homail.com), or advise our Marketing and Events Coordinator, Youssef El Sheikh at hello@britishegyptiansociety.org.uk.

Last time I wished you a Happy New Year. This time may I wish you a Happy Chinese New Year (Kung Hei Fat Choy in Cantonese) and couple with it the wish that the Year of the Monkey” is a happy one for you.

Warmest wishes

Noel