Major Gayer-Anderson was a member of the official party at the private opening of the tomb of Tutankhamun on 17th February 1923. At that time he was Oriental Secretary to the High Commissioner and had a personal invitation to the event from Lord Carnarvon’s daughter. As well as the Carnarvons and Howard Carter the party consisted of diplomats, Egyptologists, ministers and the Queen of the Belgians.
He nearly missed the event. Hearing of a change of date just in time to catch the train to Luxor, that train was delayed and in his haste to get on board the Nile ferry he sprained his ankle. Luckily the Residency party to which he was attached was also late and he joined them for the drive up the Valley of the Kings. He got his turn to pass the newly discovered portal, sealed for over 3000 years and experienced “annihilation of time”.
Come to Little Hall to discover more about the Gayer-Anderson twins and see their collection.