Maryvale HIRS learned with sadness and gratitude of the passing of Professor V Alan McClelland (1933-2025). Alan went home to the Lord he served so faithfully on 10 September.

Alan taught at the University of Liverpool (1964-1969), the National University of Ireland (1969-1977) and the University of Hull. He published widely on Catholic history and was the editor of Recusant History. Upon his retirement from Hull, Alan joined Maryvale as its Dean of Graduate Research and was instrumental in nurturing the MA and PhD programmes, that are now flourishing as Maryvale@StMary's and where his example as a gentle, persuasive and caring supervisor or research students continues. He was made a Maryvale Fellow in recognition of the enormous contribution he made to the institute.

Many of us have fond memories of long erudite debates with Alan as he sat in St John Henry Newman's room at Maryvale House, the epitome of the English gentleman-scholar. And where Alan was, there was his wife Marie, usually having driven Alan to Birmingham, always at his side, always supporting him, always giving as much care to his students and fellow lecturers as she did to Alan himself.

May he Rest in the Peace of the Lord, Rise with Christ in Glory, and may Our Lady console Marie and their daughter, Alkelda.