Farewell Newcastle (Heba Hassan Amer, Egypt, ITP 2024)

Written by Dr. Heba Hassan Amer, Curator and Head of Education Department, Alexandria National Museum (Egypt, ITP 2024)

I spent about ten days with my colleagues—Abdulrahman from Iraq, Doris from Kenya, and Wang Chaoxiang from China—at Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums. Under the leadership of Bill Griffiths, Rachel, and Malavika, it became an unforgettable journey. Our time at the Discovery Museum was both enlightening and enjoyable, thanks to Bill, Rachel, and Malavika. We learned about their innovative museum display techniques, archiving methods, and explored various educational and community initiatives, visiting the archives. The experience was truly indescribable. I learned a lot about educational programs and community outreach specifically.

We also visited the Segedunum Fort and Hadrian’s Wall which stand as significant symbols of Roman civilization in Britain. What particularly captured my interest during our visit to Hadrian’s Wall and Segedunum Fort was the site management and interpretation. I sincerely hope to one day contribute to the development of archaeological sites in my own country, Egypt.

Bill was exceptionally kind, treating us with fatherly care, even bringing us coats to shield us from the cold. He generously gifted me two books—one on the pilgrimages to Hadrian’s Wall from 1849 to 2019, and another about the borders of the Roman Empire. I’m deeply grateful to Claire for selecting me for this
visit to Newcastle and to Bill for sharing his wealth of knowledge. We shared a deep passion for Roman civilization.

This was my first experience working with a small group of fellows from the ITP programme, Chaoxiang, Doris, and Abdulrahman, they we have become close friends. We dined together every evening, exploring different cuisines—Chinese, Turkish, and Arabic. It was a rich and beautiful human experience. We shared many moments and benefited immensely from the hospitality and learning opportunities provided by the entire Newcastle team. I sincerely hope to visit this remarkable city again.