IN June, the group welcomed John Clark as the speaker.

His subject was Engineering the Pyramids.

He based his talk on the Great Pyramid of Khufu, (also known as Cheops) on the Giza plateau, south west of Cairo.

John was an engineer and had owned a large engineering company in Cairo.

He and his friend, Dick Parry, another top engineer, were both sceptical about all the theories as to how the pyramid had been built.

Looking at pictures in school textbooks, it was obvious to them that the methods illustrated were, in engineering terms, simply impossible.

John and Dick were sufficiently influential to be allowed access to the Cairo Museum warehouse and, over three years, were able to look for evidence of engineering, identifying tools from artefacts which had been neglected for years.

John spoke about the immense size of the pyramid and detailed the massive size, weight and quantity of the stone blocks.

The stone, which was relatively easy to split, came from quarries at Tura, about five-and-a-half miles away on the other side of the Nile.

The problem was transporting in sufficient quantity, and at a non-stop supply rate to enable the work to be done with no hold-ups.

John and Dick developed their theory taking into account the tools which were known to exist at the time, their knowledge that neither oars nor sails had then been invented and the resources they knew were available.

Dick has written a book about their theory and the Cairo Museum regards it as the most likely one.

Later in the month, members will hold their Jubilee event, An audience with Henry VIII.

Then, at the July meeting, we will hear a talk entitled Where do all the Knitted Hats go? about Missions to Seafarers.