Swansea University Egypt Centre

It was a privilege today to play a supporting role to the Lord Lieutenant as he presented the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service to the Egypt Centre based on the Swansea University campus.

As the website says the present museum is based upon a selection of items brought together by the pharmacist Sir Henry Wellcome. When he died in 1936, his collection was cared for by trustees, who were eventually based in London. I was told today that there were about three million items in this collection and they are still being sorted out.

Much of the collection was dispersed to various museums in Britain, but by the early 1970s some of it remained in the basement of the Petrie Museum. Gwyn Griffiths, lecturer in the Classic Department of University College Swansea and David Dixon, lecturer in Egyptology at University College London, between them arranged for a selection of the artefacts to come to Swansea.

The collection formally opened to the public in March 1976 for two afternoons in each week of term (Thursdays and Fridays 2.30-4.30). Some artefacts were also displayed at the Royal Institution (now Swansea Museum). In 1978 the collection was added to by items from the British Museum and in 1981 by the gift of a 21st Dynasty coffin from Exeter. Further items were given by individuals.

When I was at Swansea University between 1978 and 1981 this collection was based in what was then called North Arts (the Keir Hardie building today). Today it is in purpose-built accommodation attached to the Taliesin Building and is run with the help of over 120 volunteers, many of whom are still at school, the oldest of whom is 92 and has been volunteering there for 17 years. The centre holds the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in Wales, with more than 5,000 objects.

It was that use of volunteers that the Lord Lieutenant was there to honour. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK. Winners get a certificate signed by the Queen and a domed glass crystal. Representatives from the group may also be invited to attend a royal garden party.

The centre was hailed for 'providing learning opportunities and engaging with the wider community.' The award is testament to the impact the volunteers have had.

Afterwards we had a tour of the centre, guided by two of the knowledgeable volunteers, which enabled me to add to the knowledge of ancient Egypt I have picked up from watching Stargate SG1. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.