Unfortunately the events of the last year put paid to many of the ideas we had in the pipeline, but hopefully over the next twelve months you will see some of these propositions beginning to be implemented.

While the Gallery has been closed we have been working alongside its staff in very cramped conditions. In January it was announced that the Gallery would remain closed until mid 2013. This is, of course, a huge disappointment to all involved, but until that time we will continue to offer as many activities and events as possible for you.

The gremlins in our database are slowly being evicted—thanks to the many of you who sent in changes of address and new email contacts. With no office and high postage costs, emailing our members and posting updates on our website are going to be among our primary means of communicating with you in the future.

When I sent out a questionnaire in 2009, the two things that we discovered were the most important to our members were Bulletin and the Speaker of the Month programme. So it's good to look back and reflect on the fact that Gallery staff have valiantly produced two Bulletins over the last twelve months (three if you include B.164, which was largely destroyed in the February quake) and intend to continue to publish the magazine without interruption throughout the Gallery's closure. And for our part, we have made certain that the Speaker of the Month events continue; the South Library will remain our venue over the coming months and I hope many of you who have not yet ventured there will visit this year.

We are very pleased to announce two new patrons: Julie King and Gabrielle Tasman. Both are wonderful supporters of the Friends and they will now join Diana, Lady Isaac in this important role.

I would like to thank all of you for continuing to support the Gallery through your membership of the Friends. Many of you have added a donation to your membership this year, and it has been an overwhelming and humbling experience to read your lovely notes of encouragement and good wishes. We have had to say goodbye to many Friends of long standing as they have moved from our unstable city and we wish them well in their new towns and cities—they will be missed.

I will remain on the Committee and look forward to seeing you all at the exciting talks and trips we have planned for 2012.

Note:  The Friends AGM will be held on Thursday 29 March at 7pm, at the Canterbury Horticulture Centre in Hagley Park. Guest speaker Julie King will talk about David Hockney at the Royal Academy and in Yorkshire. A light supper will be served after the meeting.