In November of 2009 the ARA Board of trustees invited Professor John Wilkes to become our honorary president, succeeding the late Dr. Grahm Webster. John was formally introduced to the members at the 2009 AGM held in December at the British Museum and has since attended a number of ARA functions, for which we are delighted.

John Wilkes was born on July 12 1936, in Reigate Surrey.
Early education: King Henry VIII grammar school, coventry and then Harrow County grammar school.
University Years: he studied Ancient History and Archaeology at UCL (University College London), where he graduate with a BA. He went on to obtain his PhD at Durham University.
Following this he became a research fellow at Birmingham University between 1961-63, where he began teaching these subjects.
He was appointed assistant lecturer in history and archaeology at Manchester University (1963-64)
He returned to Birmingham, becoming a lecturer in Roman history (1964-71), rising to senior lecturer in 1971 (to 1974).
Finally in 1974 he settled in London, at the Institue of Archaeology, UCL, as Professor of the Roman Provinces. In 1992 he was appointed Yates Professor of Greek and Roman Archaeology which he held until his retirement in 2001.

John has also served with or been appointed to a number of other professional organisations throughout his career. These include being:
a Fellow of the British Academy;
a member of the Society of Antiquaries;
Honorary Vice-President of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, being their Britannia editor from 1980 to 1984.
Chariman of the Faculty of Archaeology, History and Letters, at the British School at Rome (1979-83)
Member of the Ancient Monuments Boards for Scotland (1981-91)
President of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (1982-85)
Corresponding Member of the German Archaeological Institute (1976-)
Governor of the Museum of London (1981-95)


Aside from teaching John Wilkes has undertaken a variety of fieldwork and his excavations have ranged from:
Housteads Fort on Hadrian's Wall
Carpow legionary base in Perthshire
Wilderness Plantation fortlet on the Antonine Wall
Along with Professor Shappard Frere, they undertook a major excavation at Strageath Forth, Perthshire (Strageath: excavations within the Roman fort, 1973-86, 1989)

Professor Wilkes' archaeological undertaking have seen him doing work in both Roman Britain but also further afield and he has focused on the territory of the former Yugoslavia which have resulted in a number of publications: Dalmatia 1969
Diocletian's Palace, Split (2nd ed 1986)
The Illyrians (1992)

Since moving to Oxford John has continued to work in Roman archaeology, examining theses for the University and acting as a tour guide. His own studies contiue to focus on the Danube lands and the Balkans. A survey of recent research on the Roman Danube appeared in the Journal of Roman Studies (pp 124-225, vol 95, 2005). Currently he is working on an epigraphical and archaeological study of Greek-Latin linguistics and cultural frontiers in the Balkans, between the Adriatic and the Black Sea.

The ARA are delighted to have Professor John Wilkes as our Honorary President and on behalf of the members we look forward to a fruitful relationship and particularly his wise council for the future, based on his life experience of Roman archaeology.

Grahame worked with the Royal Commission on historical Monuments for England/English Heritage as a professional archaeologist for 20 years, specialising in field and aerial survey. He has been involved in numerous national and local surveys and is co-director of the research and excavation project on the Iron Age and Roman temple complex on Hayling Island. He now lectures on archaeological courses at several colleges and universities and is much involved in research, editing and writing up of excavation reports.

Bryn specialises in Romano-British archaeology with emphasis on villa interpretation. He graduated in archaeology from the University of Wales, Cardiff, and has subsequently excavated widely in Britain. He was formally a visiting lecturer to the University of Bath where he taught Romano-British and Egyptian Archaeology.

David first became interested in Rome as a schoolboy and has maintained that interest ever since. His research interests are in Romano-British societies and the archaeology of the central Welsh Marches. He is a retired company director with an MA in Archaeology and Heritage from the University of Leicester.

Don's Roman interests are Hadrian's Wall and the North, and additionally Egypt and Cyprus. He is a retired Bank Statistician and was previously Honorary Treasurer of the ARA since its launch. He first became interested in things Roman when taking economics at Newcastle on Tyne University in the mid 1960s.

Martin Henig lectures in Roman Art in Oxford University, where he is a Fellow of Wolfson College. Books he has written include 'The Art of Roman Britain'(1995) and 'The Heirs of King Verica' (2002) as well as monographs on Greek and Roman engraved gemstones and Romano-British sculpture. He is one of the editors of the catalogue of the exhibition at the Yorkshire Museum,'Constantine the Great. York's Roman Emperor' (2006).

Anthony has been Art Librarian at Bristol Central Library since 1972, having previously worked at the Courtauld Institute of Art library. He is a noted classical iconographer and has written and lectured on Romano British art. His interests encompass ancient sculpture, mosaics, painting, furnishings and architecture. In 2000, he reassembled the 'lost' Orpheus mosaic from Newton St. Loe in the entrance hall at Bristol City Museum. Anthony has been passionately interested in ancient art since childhood.

Commander John Bithell OBE Royal Navy, was, after nearly 40 years service, placed on the retired list following a series of heart attacks in 1994. He was able to return to school day interests through his membership of Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society. Practical archaeological experience was gained at the Bestwall Quarry multi period site where he was also involved in the digging of the Romano-British Black Burnished ware production site. He was associated with Victorian Nothe Fort museum in Weymouth both as a volunteer and Chairman for 14 years, overseeing a £2.4 million refurbishment on time and on cost.

Vix is a full time professional, commercial archaeologist; is an AIfA member, with an MSc and BA in archaeology. She currently works as a Project Officer for Oxford Archaeology South. For over 15 years she has been involved in all aspects of excavating, recording, surveying and post-ex processing and writing up of archaeological remains. Work on Roman sites has included a 4 month excavation 1km south of Cirencester in 2009; a six week Romano-British excavation near Armthorpe, South Yorkshire; 2 months on the vicus site at Kirkby Thore; and large scale works on complex Roman urban sites in Lancaster and Carlisle.