It is with great sadness that we note the death of Professor Elmer Rees. Professor Rees was the Founding Director of the Heilbronn Institute of Mathematical Research (2005-2009), after which he held an Honorary Visiting Professorship at the University of Bristol. In 2009 he was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Professor Rees was born in Wales and undertook his undergraduate studies at the University of Cambridge before moving to the University of Warwick for his postgraduate studies. He held academic positions at a number of institutions including the University of Hull, the Institute of Advanced Studies in Princeton, Swansea University, the University of Oxford, and the University of Edinburgh.