CBRL British Institute marks 28th anniversary of founder’s passing

AMMAN — The CBRL British Institute in Amman held a lecture last Thursday to mark the 28th anniversary of the passing of its founder, researcher Crystal-Marie Bennett.

Delivering the lecture, titled “To Mecca on Pilgrimage on foot and camel-back: The Jordanian Darb al-Hajj”, archaeology professor Claudine Dauphin spoke about tracing the ancient pilgrimage route through Jordan. HRH Prince Hassan, who attended the lecture with Their Royal Highnesses Princess Alia and Princess Sumaya, spoke about Bennet’s legacy.

In 1975, the British Institute was founded next to the University of Jordan’s (UJ) main gates as a British field base for visiting scholars to Jordan. The institute, according to the prince, started with 26 employees who contributed to it with their own furniture and money until it could finally stand on its own.

He added that Bennett promoted the “noble art of conversation” and interrelationships between British and Jordanian citizens. “She encouraged Jordanian archaeologists from UJ to give lectures in the institute and promoted mentoring local staff and students,” he said.