We had a meeting yesterday of the trustees of the Royal Academy Trust in the empty space due to be occupied by our new lecture theatre. It was faintly surreal sitting in the cold uninhabited space wearing high visibility vests whilst discussing the finances:-
Meanwhile, the British Academy Room has been stripped to the bone. I felt the ghost of Sir Mortimer Wheeler, with his large moustaches, who used to smoke his pipe by the fire:-
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
So good to see what will be the new Chipperfield Space. Will he be retaining that splendid ceiling ? What a venue it will be ! Exactly what the Academy needs to fulfil once again the Leadership role that Reynolds established with his Discourses.
Yes, it’s pretty spectacular seeing the full volume of the space. Charles