British Council - Middle East - Last of Dictionary Men

British Ambassador to Yemen Tim Torlot opening Last of the Dictionary Men Exhibition at Al Saeed Foundation for Science & Culture

British Ambassador listening to one of the stories at the exhibition

	Last of the Dictionary Men


	Stories from the South Shields Yemeni Sailors

Last of the Dictionary Men is the title of a major and historically significant exhibition that the British Council in collaboration with Al Saeed Foundation for Science and Culture opened on October 28, 2009 at the premises of Al Saeed Foundation in Taiz.

Last of the Dictionary Men is a captivating exhibition documenting the lives and memories of those Yemenis who established the UK's first Muslim and Arab community in South Shields, Tyne & Wear. Importantly this exhibitions does not only bring attention to this particular small community, but it also offers new forms of representations; new ways of seeing, hearing and understanding the complexity of Muslim identities within Britain Today.

The exhibition was opened by HMA Tim Torlot, British Ambassador to Yemen and attended by a number of key persons in Taiz city including Deputy Chairman of Supervisory Council of Hayel Saeed Anam Group Mr. Ahmed Hayel, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hayel Saeed Anam Group Mr. Abdulrahman Hayel and Member of the board of Directors of Hayel Saeed Anam Group/Deputy Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Mr. Shouki Hayel. In addition the opening was attended by General Manager of the Culture office in Taiz Mr. Ramzi Al Yousfi and General Manager of the Security office in Taiz General Major Yahiya Al Haisami and 100 other people including journalists.

British Council Director Michael White said "I am very glad that the British Council has been able to bring this exhibition to Yemen. I hope that many people will have the chance to come to the exhibition and learn about this inspiring and unheard story of vital importance."

Mr. Faisal Saeed Fare'a, General Manager of Al Saeed Foundation for Science and Culture added "We are delighted to host this exhibition at the foundation with all the significance it holds from having our British – Yemenis even if through sight and sound in this important cultural event".

The exhibition was previously opened in Sana’a on January 13 2009 at the National Museum with the attendance of the Yemeni Minister of Culture Dr. Mohammed Abu-Bakr ِAl-Maflahi and the British Ambassador to Yemen Mr. Tim Torlot. It has also been exhibited in Aden during the month of July 2009.