British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles
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The British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles (BCRPM) is a group of British people who support the return of the Parthenon (Elgin) marbles to Athens, Greece.
The inspiration for the campaign came from Melina Mercouri, who strongly insisted for the restitution of the marbles. James Cubitt, a British architect, decided to start a campaign and the result was the present Committee. Cubitt died shortly after the formation of BCRPM.
Cubitt, according to the Committee, believed that the marbles should be stored in a museum as close to Acropolis as possible.
BCRPM is based in London and was set up in 1983 by Robert Browning, Emeritus Professor of Greek at the University of London and Eleni Cubitt, film maker and wife of James Cubitt.
The Committee supports the resolution of the UNESCO Conference of Ministers of Culture which was held in Mexico on August 4 1982.
The current (as of 2004) chairman of BCRPM is Mr. Graham Binns.
According the official web site, the first members who joined the Committee were:
- Christopher Price, journalist, broadcaster, former MP
- Graham Binns, broadcaster administrator
- Brian Clark, playwright
- Sir Michael Dummett, professor
- George Forrest, professor
- John Gould, professor
Geoffrey White or Geoff White, barrister, joined later.
In 2001 BCRPM included these additional members:
- Christopher Price
- Keith Hunter
- Jane Shallice
- AAM Bryer, scholar
- Paul Cartledge, scholar
- Judith Herrin, scholar
- Anthony Snodgrass, scholar
- Oliver Taplin, scholar
- David Hill and Stergitsa Hill from the Australian Committee for Restitution.
According to the official web site, now the Committee also includes:
- Sir John Mortimer
- Lord Ted Willis
- C. M. Woodhouse, soldier, scholar, MP
- Lord Ponsonby
- Janet Suzman
- Spike Milligan
As BCRPM says, it has received support from the actors:
The sponsors of the Committee, who financed the campaign, include:
- Nana Mouskouri (Greek)
- Mr. John Polyzoides (Greek)
See also
External link
- Official Web Site (http://www.parthenonuk.com/index.php)