British Committee For The Reunification of The Parthenon Marbles

The British Committee for the Reunification 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 argued for the restitution of the marbles. James Cubitt, a British architect, who firmly believed that the Parthenon Marbles, as integral architectural members of a unique and internationally valuable monument, should be assembled together in a museum as close to the Acropolis as possible. This would restore the beauty and meaning of the Parthenon, as well as its physical and scholarly integrity. He met with Melina Mercouri and Jules Dassin in Athens to discuss the idea of setting up a British campaign.

The aims of the Committee, as originally defined, are as follows:

"To secure the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece in accordance with the resolution of the UNESCO Conference of Ministers of Culture held in Mexico on 4 August 1982. To this end - we intend to present the case as fully as possible to the British public and to bring the most effective pressure on the Trustees of the British Museum and the British Government."

The Committee was then set up in 1983 under the chairmanship of Robert Browning (Byzantinist), Emeritus Professor of Greek at the University of London, an eminent scholar and polymath, internationally renowned and universally respected. James Cubitt was the first honorary member for the Committee, sadly he died in the same year. Eleni Cubitt, film producer and wife of James Cubitt became the Secretary.

BCRPM is based in London and its current Chairman is Edward O'Hara, former MP.

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
• W. G. (George) Forrest, professor
• John Gould, professor

In 2005, based on discussions with the public, the committee changed its name from British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Marbles to British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, as it was felt that out of all the arguments surrounding the Parthenon (Elgin) Marbles, that of reunifying two separated collections was perceived by many people as the most compelling.

In 2010 BCRPM's committee consists of:

• Professor Anthony Snodgrass Honorary President
• Mr Edward O'Hara, Chairman
• Mr Chris Price Honorary Deputy Chairman
• Mr Eleni Cubitt Founder
• Mr George Bizos Human Rights Lawyer
• Dr Tom Flynn, art historian
• Mrs Marlen Godwin
• Professor A A M Bryer, scholar
• Professor Paul Cartledge, scholar
• Professor Judith Herrin, scholar
• Mr Keith Hunter OBE

Current and past supporters of the Committee include:

• Sir John Mortimer
• Ted, Baron Willis
• C.M. Woodhouse, 5th Baron Terrington, soldier, scholar, MP
• Frederick, 4th Baron Ponsonby, politician
• Janet Suzman
• Spike Milligan

BCRPM states that it has received support from the actors:

• Judi Dench
• Vanessa Redgrave
• Ian McKellen
• Fiona Shaw

The sponsors of the Committee, who financed exhibitions and events for the campaign, include:

• Nana Mouskouri (Greek)
• Mr. John Polyzoides (Greek)