PROFESSOR Geoffrey Martin, of Cambridge University and patron of the society, addressed an audience of 78 members and friends on the re-excavation of the tomb of King Horemheb, who became Pharaoh of Egypt in 1306 BC following the death of the young Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Professor Martin conducted a re-excavation of the site during 2006 and 2007. Painstaking excavation revealed items of no interest to plunderers such as arrows, bronze nails, fragments of vessels, pottery shards, beads and wine jars.

Egyptologists glean much information from these objects and Professor Martin praised the wonderful local men who worked tirelessly on the excavation.

The new winter season of lectures begins in September, but in the meantime society members will be at Horndon Feast and Fayre and the Orsett Show, selling a variety of books, journals and parish guides.