Obituary: Caroline Villers Caroline Villers was born on July 12, 1948. She died of a brain tumour on December 24, 2004, aged 56. With a background in modern history, she took a master in the history of art at Courtauld Institute of Art in 1972, followed by a diploma in the conservation of easel paintings in 1975. After a year as assistant curator of prints and drawings at the London Museum, she returned to the Courtauld as technical assistant in the department of conservation and technology, then as lecturer, senior lecturer, and finally as director of the department. Caroline led numerous Courtauld program students as well as PhD students to their degree and simultaneously she was involved in numerous projects and research programmes at the institute and beyond. Over the years Caroline published a number of highly important papers and books either alone or in collaboration with colleagues or students at the Courtauld. Conference papers and books spanning from fundamental research into materials, practical treatment techniques to technical art history carry her name. Caroline also took up the important task of collecting, editing and publishing the work of Gerry Hedley and her most recent volume was Lining Paintings: Papers from the Greenwich Conference on Comparative Lining Techniques (2003). These publications were natural steps in line with her general understanding that it was important to record and publish information about present and recent techniques and conservation-restoration treatments. This would aid contemporary and future generations understanding current principles and line of thought employed to appreciate and keep the past for the future. Caroline Villers was continuously involved in national and international collaboration. She was a fellow of the International Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works of Art (IIC), a trustee and board member of the Textile Conservation Centre, vice-chairman of the International Council of Museums Conservation Committee (ICOM-CC). These and more organizations benefited over the years from her enthusiasm and talent to make people work together. For ICOM-CC, the sudden loss of Caroline is devastating. At the Lyon 1999 Triennial Meeting Caroline was voted into the Directory Board and took up the task of vice-chair. Not only was Caroline full heartedly involved in ICOM-CC for many years, actively participating in Triennial Meetings, and presented papers in the Preprints, but she was also deeply involved and one of the leading professionals in the selection process and publication of the 2002 and the forthcoming 2005 Preprints. Caroline on behalf of ICOM-CC was leading the negotiating for the possible collaboration with IIC for a joint international conference in 2008. Her commitment to ICOM-CC was immense and passionate and she was a great intellectual and personal support for the Directory Board and two successive Chairs. Caroline was a rare, outstanding and loving person. She will be deeply missed by everyone in the conservation field - especially in the ICOM-CC's multidisciplinary network, something exceptionally important to her. * * * A thanksgiving service for the life and work of Caroline Villers will be held at the church of St Clement Danes, Strand, London, on Friday April 22 at 5;00 pm. This will be followed by a reception at the Courtauld Institute Gallery nearby at 6:30. * * * ICOM-CC Directory Board - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html