A death

It is with great sadness that news of the death of Caroline Villers
is posted on the DistList.

Caroline was Director of the Department of Conservation and
Technology at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.  She began
her lifetime's involvement with the Department in 1974 when she
graduated with the Institute's Diploma in the Conservation of Easel
Paintings and, over the years, was appointed to a range of posts
from Technical Assistant, through Lecturer to Senior Lecturer and,
in 1999, as Director of the Department.

Caroline's principal research interests included the history of
artists' materials and techniques, and the history and principles of
the structural conservation of easel paintings.  The list of her
publications reflects, from the early 1980s onwards, both interests,
as well as her enthusiasm for collaboration and inter-disciplinary
thinking.

At the heart of Caroline's working life, however, was conservation
education.  She was an inspiring, demanding and challenging teacher
who brought out the best in her students, the best in her colleagues
and, in return, gave back the best of herself.  Caroline brought
clarity, pragmatism and scalpel-sharp thinking to any discussion,
with that enviable gift of seizing disparate strands to create a
coherent whole, all the while involving others in the process.

Caroline's additional academic activities included, over the years,
her work as editor of 'The Conservator' for UKIC and of 'Studies in
Conservation' for IIC.  She also contributed widely to the work of a
range of professional bodies and, at the time of her death, was
Vice-Chair of ICOM-CC.

Caroline's distinguished career in conservation is remarkable in so
many ways:  for her prominence in gaining recognition for
conservation as a scholarly and intellectual pursuit;  for her
sustained commitment to, and pleasure in, the achievements of her
students and colleagues;  for her unflagging enthusiasm for, and
quality of her contribution to, both conservation and wider
professional collaborations.

It is unthinkable that those of us who knew her--whether colleagues,
students or friends--will no longer hear her gutsy laugh or wonder
where that fizz and crackle of energy would take her (and us).

Caroline Villers died peacefully on 24 December 2004, aged 56.  A
family funeral was held on 6 January;  the date of a Thanksgiving
Service, to be held in London, will be announced as will the details
of a conservation bursary to be established in Caroline's memory.
Her two daughters and her son, together with her husband Robert
McNab, are in the thoughts of those who knew her.

Please get in touch with elaine.connolly<-a t->courtauld< . >ac< . >uk for further
information.

Clare Meredith
12 East Terrace
South Queensferry EH30 9HS
clare.meredith<-a t->btinternet< . >com
+44 131 331 2003


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 18:30
                 Distributed: Monday, January 10, 2005
                       Message Id: cdl-18-30-001
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