A number of deaths were of particular sadness for Tate. Sir Edwin Manton died at the age of 96 in late 2005. He was one of the most generous benefactors in our history through his support on acquisitions and buildings. In 1988 his gift provided for the American Fund for the Tate Gallery, which has done so much to improve our representation of American art. His further gifts established the foundations for the Centenary Development at Tate Britain and he bequeathed a Constable painting and a further significant sum which will be used to help build up the Collection Endowment. Richard B Fisher, a benefactor and Chair of the American Fund for the Tate Gallery, died in 2005, having made a distinctive and generous contribution to Tate for which the trustees are most grateful.
The Board’s condolences go to John Taylor, Tate Britain Visitor Services Manager, and his son Simon, who also works at Tate Britain, whose daughter and sister Carrie was one of the victims of the 7 July bombings. Trustees were also saddened by the deaths of artists Patrick Caulfield, John Latham, Eduardo Paolozzi and Ian Hamilton Finlay. We are pleased that all four of these much-admired artists are represented significantly in Tate’s collection.
Finally, Trustees wish to pay tribute to Tate’s staff, many of them experts in their field, whose professionalism and passion is at the foundation of Tate’s success. During these two years, we said farewell to a number of long-serving staff. Roy Perry retired after 37 years in the Conservation Department at Tate and was awarded an MBE in recognition of his passionate interest in, and knowledge of the care of Tate’s Collection. Beth Houghton retired as Head of Library and Archive after 30 years at Tate, having completed the creation of the Hyman Kreitman Research Centre in 2002. In 2005 Peter Wilson left Tate to become Project Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, having managed numerous projects for Tate including Tate St Ives, the second phase of Tate Liverpool, the opening of Tate Modern and the Tate Britain Centenary Development, a service recognised by the award of an OBE in the 2001 Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Jan Debbaut, Director, Tate Collections, left to pursue independent curatorial activities, and we were sad to say goodbye to, and pleased to say hello to, Andrea Nixon, Director of Development since 1999, who was appointed to a new post of Executive Director, Tate Liverpool at the beginning of 2006.
Paul Myners
Chairman
Professor Dawn Ades (retired on 12 April 2005)
Helen Alexander
Victoria Barnsley
Melanie Clore
Sir Howard Davies
Patricia Lankester (appointed on 13 April 2005)
Professor Jennifer Latto
Anish Kapoor (appointed on 22 November 2005)
Paul Myners (chair)
Chris Ofili (retired on 21 November 2005)
Julian Opie
Fiona Rae
Jon Snow
John J Studzinski
As at 31 March 2006
