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Message from the Chairman

Welcome to our revamped website. After 8 years of the old website we felt it was time for a fresh look.

The British Egyptian Society, now a Registered UK Charity, has existed since 1990 and was created by Ambassador Mohamed Shaker and Sir Michael Weir. The Founding Executive Committee included Dr. Ahmed El Mokadem (founding Vice Chairman), Mr. Said Bassily, Mr. Terry Bishop, Mr. Vivian Davies, Dr. Zohni Farrag, Dr. Sabri Gabriel, Dr. Ashraf Marwan, Mrs. Gihad Moustafa, Miss Anna Hodson Pressinger and Miss Mira Takla. I succeeded Sir Michael in 2006. having been a Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and have travelled extensively around the Middle East. Presently I am Chairman also of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce. Our Vice Chairman is Professor Magdy Isnak Hanna, FRCS, CCIM, MRSM who, apart from being a surgeon and entrepreneur, is a Trustee of the Sir Magdy Yacoub Heart Hospital in Aswan, Chairman of the Egyptian Medical Society in the UK and a Freeman of the City of Glasgow. The Rt. Han Lord Patten of Barnes, Chancellor of Oxford University,  Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles KCMG, Sir Derek Plumbly KCMG are Honorary Life Members. Our Patron and Founder Member is Dr. Ahmed El Mokadem who is a distinguished Academic and Economist.

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Secretary's Blog

18 November 2012 At last I have been able to access my Blog again. We have a wonderful new Website, masterminded (may I say that if it is a lady?) by our wonderful Treasurer Dina Soliman-Pedersen, but I have been trapped in the past. Now I am back in the present and can w… Read more >

6 January 2012 It’s very difficult to keep up to date with events happening in Egypt. I visited Cairo in October with members of our Education Conference sub-committee, led by our Vice Chairman, Professor Magdy Ishak Hanna. The conference, which is scheduled to ta… Read more >

Secretary’s Blog     14th February 2013

I am ashamed that his latest Blog is so long after the previous one. My sincere apologies and at least I am thinking of you on our website on Valentine’s Day!

However our New Ideas and Events Sub Committee has been working on New Events. The remarkable Dina Soliman-Pedersen (our Treasurer and the mother of tiny “Maya” since my last blog) will do one of her rather smart Diary Notices which shortly we will be posting on the main website.

 

Some items of immediate interest:-

 

We are waiting for H M the Queen to meet the   H.E. Mr. Ashraf Elkholy soon so that he can present his credentials and formally take over as the Egyptian Ambassador. Once this has taken place we will organise a Reception to welcome him to London on behalf of the British Egyptian Society. (This will be preceded by the postponed AGM)

 

I have sent all members details of our forthcoming Day Trip to Cambridge. However, it is open to non-member’s and the flyer for it appears elsewhere on the website. Do Search!

 

We have been working with the new Cultural Counsellor, Professor Nadia Elkholy (no relation to H.E.) on some future events at the Cultural Centre. However, she is frustrated at the rate of progress on the re-building and is having to look elsewhere to hold events. Our Board Member, Dr. Elisabeth Kendall who is a Senior Research Fellow in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Pembroke College, Oxford  has had discussions with the British Academy, 10 – 11 Carlton House Terrace, London and they have agreed to hold a Reception for a talk by Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Biblioteca Alexandrina on 28th May; Professor Elkholy had persuaded him to visit London and give the talk on behalf of the Cultural Centre. The British Egyptian Society is delighted to be associated with such a prestigious event and more details will follow.

 

Well, I have missed two New Years; ours and the Chinese which started on 10th February. So, may I wish you “Kung Hei Fat Choy” (“Congratulations and a lot of money”) and hope that 2013 is happy for all of you.

 

Warmest wishes

Noel

P.S. Oh, don’t forget also to follow us on Facebook.

Any new readers who are interested in joining the BES just e.mail me at noelrands@hotmail.com and I will be happy to e.mail joining forms.