Manchester Ancient Egypt Society

The organisers pass on their good wishes to MAES and say thanks to all the support given to the exhibition. MAES members played an important role in making the exhibition a huge success. From tour guides to exhibition staff each had an important part to play. Meeting the general public and fostering interest in Egyptology in the Northwest was an added bonus for MAES. We hope to see many new faces at our monthly meetings due to the added interest generated by the exhibition.

"One wonderful moment was when a little girl came running up to me in the exhibition dragging her grandmother behind her. The little girl told her grandma that 'This is the lady that was so nice with me and told me all about the boy king'. She had a beaming smile on her face as she greeted me. Her grandmother told me that her grand-daughter had not stopped talking about the exhibtion since the visit by her school and she wanted to come back again and see that "nice lady". It made it all worthwhile

"I enjoyed myself I would have come to the exhibition and worked here for nothing"

"The exhibtion is the best thing to have come to Manchester for some time, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I visited 6 times and still found something new"

"The best thing about the exhibition was being a guide for the school children. They had so many questions, and had such enquiring minds. I am sure we will see so many members to MAES in about 10 years time".

"This has been a huge boost to Manchester, well done Semmel".

Wtih all the fund-raising events going on, Manchester will see benefits for years to come".

A personal view of the web-author. As a guide it was so pleasurable to see so many people interested in ancient Egypt. I would like to tell you a few short stories which have a humourous twist. My first guide session in November had got under way, all was going well. Just as we arrived in the Tableau room the fire alarm went off and we had to leave suddenly. The couple with me (yes it was only two) were there to enjoy the day as it was their wedding anniversary. After one full hour stood on a cold car park waiting for the all clear, they stuck it out as long as possible and finally gave up the ghost and went for a cup of coffee to warm up. "we will be back", they informed me. Credit to them for staying put, when they could have been on a romantic weekend holiday instead!. Another time the adjoining car show was in full swing. Their master of ceremonies had found the tanoy button and was loudly announcing competitions for their guests. It was so loud it completely drowned out the Tutankhamum exhibition and our staff were heard to say "for goodness sake switch it off, and if (like you say) you cannot find the off switch, do not make any more announcements". When I acted as a guide for school parties, the children were full of interesting and sometimes strange questions. Many asked me if Tutankhamum was in the coffin (at the exhibtion) and a little girl asked me if I knew him! The most poignant story is when an elderly (86 years young) visitor who was deaf and dumb came to "see" the exhibition. As I was a room guide that day, he thrust a piece of paper in front of me which said "Mummy?". I pointed him the direction of the coffin and like many of us trying to communicate knowing he couldn't hear me, I instinctively talked louder and started to gesticulate as I hovered over the golden coffin. As I looked up I could see the concerned faces of other visitors; they clearly thought me mad! However, pleased with my attempt I wondered off. The elderly gent found me again and he thrust the paper in front of me again. This time it read "King". Umm, I thought, "can't take him to the coffin again, where can I take him?". In a flash of inspiration I led him over the golden statues where one had the boy king on top of the goddess being held aloft. Again talking loudly (if not louder than before), I tried to show him this was a small "King", pushing my hands together to demonstrate "little". He scribbled again on his paper which then said "Big". "Oh my goodness" I thought. I feebly pointed to the main entrance of the exhibtion where a life-sized statue (replica from Luxor Museum) was sited. I am not sure if he understood, but I caught the other visitors around me smiling at my latest attempt to communicate as I thrust my right arm forward such that I must have looked like I was bowling in the test match. I hurried away...I am not good at sherades!