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 The March 2008 issue of the "Melik Bulletin" will shortly be available for download.
 March 2008 - Bulletin
 An article by Melik Society Chairman Henry Keown-Boyd was published by the British Museum in the latest issue of their Sudan and Nubia Magazine. "Victorian Gunboats in the 21st Century" is now available for download.
Victorian Gunboats in the 21st Century (Adobe PDF, 849KB, 4 pages)
Agreement has been reached by the Melik Society and National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM) to set up the Nile Foundation for the purpose of restoring the Gunboat MELIK and the Armed Steamer BORDEIN and giving them new roles to attract visitors to the Sudan. NCAM has been responsible for Sudan’s extensive heritage since Independence in 1956. The Agreement was signed in London at the Sudan Embassy today in the presence of the Minister of Culture, HE Mohamed Yusef Abdullah, HM Ambassador (Khartoum) HE Ian Cliff OBE and the Sudanese Ambassador, HE Omer Siddig.
Click here to read the full news release
Ben Macintyre reports from Khartoum: She led the British flotilla at the Battle of Omdurman, and she’s been a haven for expatriate gin drinkers. New the rusting Melik has become an unlikely symbol of Anglo-Sudanese co-operation.
The Times, November 25, 2006.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article649300.ece
The December 2006 issue of the "Melik Bulletin" is now available for download.
December 2006 - Bulletin (Online viewer)
December 2006 - Bulletin (Adobe PDF, 3938KB, 30 pages)
The uneasy peace between government and rebels existing in the south and west of the country might deter tourists from visiting Sudan. But Sudan 's fascinating history stretches from the earliest origins of man, through thousands of years of a Nubian civilisation that rivals that of ancient Egypt. Centuries of Christian domination was followed by a gradual change to the strict Islamic culture of today. Its nineteenth century conflicts with Britain, with the death of General Gordon of Khartoum at the hands of the Mahdi, and the later recapture of the country by General, later Lord, Kitchener, are hazily familiar to generations of schoolchildren. Sandi Toksvig visits Khartoum, where the Blue and the White Niles meet, and asks if Sudan and its wealth of attractions are really ready for visitors. She hears about the Nubian or Meroetic pyramids, visits the Mahdi 's tomb, discovers one of Lord Kitchener's gunboats rusting in a yacht club and goes to see the renowned Whirling Dervishes. Radio 4 Excess Baggage, 26 August 2006
Listen online at www.bbc.co.uk
On 31st March, Lady Ashcombe hosted a party for the launch of the 2006 Season, at Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe. Fifty invited guests attended the event that featured the new exhibition ‘Letters to Khartoum’ and the new ‘Connoisseur Tours’ of some of the most splendid rooms in the private apartments, including the Billiard Room and Chandos Bedroom. David Gordon, General Gordon’s great grand nephew attended the event, which included viewings of an audio-visual presentation, portraying General Gordon’s Siege of Khartoum and Relief Expedition in the 1880’s. The General and Captain John Brocklehurst, later Lord Ranksborough, an ancestor of the current family, the Dent-Brocklehurst’s, were great friends and corresponded with each other, often at great personal risk. The local artist, Katie Morgan, described to fellow guests how she created a backdrop for the artefacts and paintings, the result being a truly atmospheric setting for the varied and interesting pieces. Having viewed the new exhibition, guests moved downstairs to enjoy a sumptuous buffet in the Banqueting Hall and were addressed by Lady Ashcombe and Fergus Nicoll, who provided a voiceover for the new audio visual and wrote the book ‘The Mahdi of the Sudan’, relating to the Siege of Khartoum. After lunch, the gardens and other exhibitions were open for guests to explore at their own leisure. They were also invited to attend the new tours led by our Senior Guides, which are taking place on Wednesdays for the remainder of the season. Sudeley Castle Gardens & Exhibitions is closed for the winter but will re open on 31st March 2007
Visit www.sudeleycastle.co.uk for opening times. Special Events programme throughout the season, Please call 01242 602308 for further details
At the invitation of the Ministry of Culture in Khartoum and with the enthusiastic support and encouragement of the British Ambassador Ian Cliff, a mission from the Society visited Khartoum at the end of February. The purpose of the mission was firstly, to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Corporation of Antiquities and Museums (NICAM) and secondly, to carry out the technical assessment of the Melik and the Bordein. The mission was headed by Henry Keown-Boyd, accompanied by Allan Woodliffe, Anthony Harvey, Colonel Mike Reynolds RE, Wyn Davies of Frazer-Nash Consultants and Gillian Wettern of the Maritime Foundation.
The Imperial War Museum acted as hosts for the annual conference in October onboard HMS BELFAST. The Society was invited to give a presentation on the restoration plans for the Melik and Bordein in conjunction with Frazer Nash Consultants as part of the conference programme.
David Hathaway kindly offered his services as his contribution
to the project by producing a 1:250 scale model (approx. 18cm) which
can be downloaded and printable onto 2 x A4 size sheets.
www.papershipwright.co.uk
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