The Abe Bailey Trust has reviewed the critical South African, British and Ethiopian Covid-19 pandemic situations, the severe disruption of our university programmes, the challenges faced by our hosts at Goodenough College and others who make the annual tour to the UK possible, the operation of airlines, and the safety of our bursars. The Trust has therefore taken the decision to cancel the 2021 tour. All stakeholders will be notified as soon as possible.

This is the second time in the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary Programme's 70-year history that a tour has been cancelled. In 1980 the tour was cancelled because of the serious disruption on university campuses by anti-apartheid protests and riots. In 2021 the unprecedented global crisis resulting from the virus pandemic has created the unique situation which has led to the cancellation of the Travel Bursary Tour.

Accordingly the usual Farewell Dinner where members of the Abe Bailey Fellowship join the Trustees to wish the new bursars a successful tour, will not take place this year. Likewise the usual Welcome Reception at Goodenough College to which Old Abes in the UK are invited, will not happen. The Fellowship Newsletter will be published in September this year as usual.

It is hoped sincerely that it will be possible to resume all the features of the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary Programme in 2022 as it enters its eighth decade.