Dear fellow members of the SSCLE,

It is with great sorrow that we are informed of the passing of our former president, colleague and mentor, Professor Bernard Hamilton.

Bernard was Professor Emeritus of Crusading History at the University of Nottingham. He served as the fifth president of the SSCLE for the years 2008-2016. He was a major scholar and author of numerous publications including The Latin Church in the Crusader States: The Secular Church (1980), The Medieval Inquisition (Foundations of Medieval History) (1982), Crusaders, Cathars and the Holy Places (1999), The Leper King and His Heirs: Baldwin IV and the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem (2000), Religion in the Medieval West (2003) and The Christian World of the Middle Ages (2013).

Bernard was highly regarded by all for his scholarship and intelligence, and much loved for his character. As president of the SSCLE he did much to advance the organization and was renowned for his support of young scholars, in tribute of which the SSCLE committee established the Bernard Hamilton Prize in his honour, now in its second year.

I am personally sorrowed by Bernard’s passing. I was fortunate to have served for a number of years as his secretary on the SSCLE committee. What distinguished him was his patience, great charm and kindness. We send our condolences to his family.

He will be sorely missed.

Adrian Boas

President