Professor John Tait is also Edwards Professor of Egyptology Emeritus at UCL, having retired from his post in 2010. He served three three-year terms on the Society’s Committee from 1989, and was then Vice-Chairman from 2002–2005. He has assisted with the Society’s publications in various editorial roles from 1984 up to the present. In the 1970s, he joined several seasons of the EES excavations at North Saqqara, collaborating with Professor Harry Smith in work on Demotic papyri from the site. His research currently focuses on the role of writing and of literature in Egyptian society from the New Kingdom to Christian Egypt, and work in progress on publishing Demotic papyri includes further material from the Society’s work at North Saqqara.