Canadian Classical Bulletin/Bulletin Canadien des
Etudes Anciennes
16.7.1 2010 03 16 ISSN 1198-9149
Editor/Rdacteur: Guy Chamberland (Thorneloe
University at Laurentian University)
ccb@cac-scec.ca
webpage: http://cac-scec.ca/
Published by e-mail by the Classical Association of
Canada/Publi par courrier lectronique par la socit canadienne des tudes
classiques
President: Jonathan Edmondson (York University, Toronto)
president@cac-scec.ca
Secretary/ Secrtaire: John
Serrati (McGill University, Montreal) secretary@cac-scec.ca
Treasurer/ Trsorier: Ingrid
Holmberg (University of Victoria) treasurer@cac-scec.ca
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Contents: IN MEMORIAM -- COLIN WELLS
From:
Jonathan Edmondson
COLIN WELLS (1933-2010)
All members of the Classical Association of Canada will be saddened to
learn of the news of the death on 11 March of Colin Wells, who taught with
great distinction at the University of Ottawa between 1960 and 1987. The
Association is very grateful to Susan Treggiari, ColinÕs former Ottawa
colleague, for preparing this tribute, in collaboration with ColinÕs widow,
Kate, and their sons Christopher and Dominic. On behalf of the Association, IÕd
like to convey our sincerest condolences to all of ColinÕs family and friends
at this sad time.
Tous les membres de la Socit Canadienne des Etudes Classiques seront
attrists par la nouvelle de la mort, le 11 mars, de M. Colin Wells, qui a
enseign avec grande distinction lÕUniversit dÕOttawa entre 1960 et 1987. La
SCEC est trs reconnaissante Mme Susan Treggiari, ancienne collgue de Colin
Ottawa, pour la prparation d'une notice ncrologique en collaboration avec
Kate Wells, la veuve de Colin, et leurs fils Christopher et Dominic. Au nom de
la SCEC, je voudrais prsenter nos plus sincres condolances toute la
famille et tous les amis de Colin en ce triste moment.
Jonathan Edmondson
President, CAC/SCEC (2008-10)
C. M. Wells
Colin Wells
died on 11 March, at Bangor in North Wales, with his family around him, after a
short illness. He was born on 15 November 1933. After Nottingham High School,
where he was very well taught, he went up to Oriel College, Oxford, to read
Lit. Hum. After taking Honour Moderations, he interrupted his studies in order
to do his military service, during which he was stationed in Egypt and enjoyed
early-morning riding in the desert. Returning to Oxford, he completed his
Greats work. At this stage, he was especially interested in philosophy. But he
nearly opted for a military career. Instead he began his teaching at Beaumont,
an appropriate choice as he had become a Roman Catholic at 21. In 1960 he
married Kate Hughes, daughter of the novelist Richard Hughes. He was asked by
Fr. Etienne Gareau O. M. I. to accept an appointment at the University of
Ottawa. After two yearsÕ teaching and the birth of a son, Christopher, Kate and
Colin returned to England so that he could start a doctorate in Roman
Archaeology under the supervision of Ian Richmond. The seed for his work on the
frontiers under Augustus was in an essay he had written as an undergraduate for
P. A. Brunt, his tutor, who was a major influence. Another son, Dominic, was
born during their two-year stay in England.
Colin served
the University of Ottawa with energy, enthusiasm and vision. He was one of the
pioneers of an interdisciplinary Classical Civilisation course. He served as
chairman of the Department of Classical Studies / Dpartement des Etudes
anciennes (overseeing a period of growth) and as Vice-Dean and was secretary to
an important committee which reviewed the structures of the university.
Concurrently he was editing Echos du monde classique / Classical News & Views. At the same
time, he was active in research and participation in learned societies. The
Wells house in New Edinburgh was a centre of hospitality for classicists and
other guests from all over the world. After over a quarter of a century, he
regretfully left Ottawa in 1987 to take up a new and exciting post in Texas as
Distinguished Professor at Trinity University, San Antonio. Here, with a new
culture to explore, an office big enough for most of his books on Roman history
and archaeology and a strikingly elegant house designed for entertaining, he
and Kate entered upon a new period of their lives, making new friends while
maintaining old contacts. Teaching continued to fascinate and pre-occupy him
until he was seventy. At that point, they came back to their house in Oxford,
before moving definitively to a house in Normandy, which offered a barn which
could become a library. He had always loved France.
An able administrator, Colin served many organisations
in the course of his career: the AAH, AIA, APA, CAC, Rei Cretariae Romanae
Fautores, the Limes
Congresses (he only missed one congress) and others. He was a fellow of the
Society of Antiquaries and Visiting Professor at Berkeley. He was Visiting
Fellow at Brasenose (1973-4) and ever after, as a member of Common Room,
enjoyed the hospitality and communal life of the college.
The German
Policy of Augustus, the fruit of his work on frontiers, came out in
1972. It was followed by the exceptional introduction, The Roman Empire (1984), which has
delighted and stimulated undergraduates ever since. An impressive production of
articles in history and archaeology went on all the time, the rhythm
accelerated recently, as the history and archaeology of northern France seized
his attention. From 1976, initially with the late Edith Wightman, Colin was
directing the Canadian team excavating in Carthage, an involvement which continued
for over twenty years. His lectures on the dig, delivered in his inimitable
style, will be long remembered. He was happily engaged in writing a short
history of the Roman army and had just finished the first chapter. A book on
the hellenistic period was in view.
A man of manifold interests and warm sympathies, Colin
Wells made the most of his exceptionally full life up to the end. He will leave
a big gap in the many circles to which he belonged.
All of us offer our sympathy to his wife, sons, grandsons
and the whole family.
The funeral will be held on 18 March and there will be
a memorial service in July.
Susan Treggiari, Oxford
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Next regular issue 2010 04 15
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