Wednesday 4th November 2009

Swanning around the Far East for almost 4 weeks has put me more than a little behind. So let me try to come slightly up to date.

We had the presentations for our Photographic Competition in the Clore Education Centre at the British Museum on 18th September. It was a really happy evening and for details of the prize winners do look elsewhere on our website. Next challenge is to find something to follow up on this next year. Naturally we could not have done this without sponsors and so I would like to thank in particular Solimon Travels for sponsoring the 1st prize, Eon Media from Hull, who sponsored the 2nd Prize, Allam Marine for sponsoring the next 3 and Sonia Gergis and her brother for giving an extra prize in memory of their late father, who founded the Egyptian Photographic Society. Of major assistance were Damien Demolder of Amateur Photographer, Claire Messenger of the British Museum and the redoubtable David Turner of Mainline Design who created the banners and all the publicity for the exhibition.

As we approach the end of the year we still have some major events. Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub will deliver the 2nd Sir Michael Weir Annual Lecture in the Institution of Civil Engineers on Thursday 3rd December. We are fortunate in having such a distinguished speaker.

On 8th December in the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery at the British Museum we are hosting, jointly with Heritage World Press, a Reception for Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Cairo. Dr. Hawass is a brilliant lecturer on archeology and has appeared on many television programmes, wearing his gtrademark Indiana Jones hat. This will be a fascinating evening.

If you have not applied to attend either or both of these events then please e.mail me at:-

noelrands@hotmail.com

Next year is our 20th Anniversary and so we are thinking of events to make this a year to remember. Soon we hope to be granted Charity Status by the Charity Commissioners and this should help us to raise funds. It is important to us to sponsor items we know are worthwhile and we cannot do it on membership fees alone.

Well, that is it for the moment. I plan to write an "End of the Year" blog, at the end of 2009, that is!

Warmest wishes to all

Noel

P.S. Do please feel free to e.mail me on any ideas you may have to improve our annual programme.