A generous King remembered

I first met the student Hussein when he was a six-year-old boy like me. 

That was in 1941 when we both enrolled in the Bishop’s School, in Jabal Amman.

In 1948, Hussein moved to the Islamic College, for only four months, and in January 1949 he rejoined the Bishop’s School until he finished the second term and entered Victoria College in Alexandria, Egypt.

Among Prince Hussein’s schoolmates at the time I remember Zeid Bin Shaker, Zeid Rifai, Hamdi Tabaa, Abdul Rahim Malhas, Marwan ALQasem, Yanal Hikmat, Michael Hamarneh, Mohammad Asfour, Yousef Qussons, Hiratch Etyemezian, Mohammad Bedawi, Mithieb Alawi, Nasri Jumeyan, Saeed Maatook, Ziad Mango, Hani Haqi.

Jiryes Halaseh was the veteran director of the school. When Halaseh retired, after 50 years in service, King Hussein presented him with a medal in recognition of his service.

Student Hussein asked all in the school to call him Hussein, without the title (Prince or Ameer). He was honest, intelligent and known for his courage.

He was generous and performed voluntary work. 

His popularity stemmed from the fact that he grew up among his people. He grew with the country and with its diverse population as a bedouin, farmer, worker, student, scout, pilot, soldier, sportsman, leader and peacemaker.

King Hussein was famous for his humanity and generosity.

I remember during school breaks, as I and another schoolmate often lacked money and could not afford to buy the sandwich the others ate, Hussein would split his sandwich into three parts, insisting that we share his with him.

1 think the most famous humanitarian gesture King Hussein made was to give Al Hashemiyeh Palace to Jordanian orphans to be their favourite home.

God bless Hussein’s soul.

Fawaz Alkureisha,
Amman