Dundee's McManus Art Gallery & Museum has just celebrated its 150th anniversary, when it opened as The Albert Institute for Science and Literature and the Victoria Galleries, Dundee's original V&A, in 1867. The Egyptian collection has always been an integral part of the museum and was started shortly after its opening. Come along and hear about the donors - The Egypt Exploration Fund, Rev. Colin Campbell and Sir James Caird amongst others - and the Egyptian collection over this 150 year period, its objects, rediscoveries and research.

Having had a fascination with all things Egyptian since watching John Romer's 'Ancient Egyptians', in 2007 Averil decided to take her interest further by taking the Certificate and then the Diploma in Egyptology at the University of Manchester. This in turn led to her becoming a volunteer at the McManus Art Galleries & Museum in 2011 where she has been researching the Egyptology Collection, working with the curators, conservator and collection.