It is with great sadness that we have to inform you of the death our friend and former colleague Professor Peter Clarricoats. Peter died on Friday, January 17, 2020 after a short illness. 

Professor Clarricoats was the Founder of the Electromagnetics and Antenna Group when he joined Queen Mary College (now Queen Mary University of London) from Leeds University in 1967. Through his leadership the Group had made significant contributions to the UK antenna and microwave industry. Over 40 years of his academic career, Professor Clarricoats made numerous notable achievements including pioneering designs for shaped reflectors, reconfigurable reflectors and especially corrugated horns. The latter are now universally used in satellite ground stations and in spacecraft. His personal research was recognised through many significant awards from IEE and IEEE where he received the highest honour from the Antenna Society (APS) The Distinguished Achievement Award in 2001. His contribution to microwaves in Europe was recognised through a Microwave Prize in 1989 and a Medal in 2004.

Professor Clarricoats was vice-president of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, from 1989 to 1991, and vice-president and treasurer of URSI (the International Union of Radio Science) from 1993 to 1999. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Professor Clarricoats was awarded with CBE in 1996.

After he retired from his full time post in 1997, Professor Clarricoats continued to supervise research and through his personal innovation developed a compact horn needed for satellites and spacecraft. In September 2015, he was awarded the Sir Frank Whittle medal of the Royal Academy of Engineering, one of the academy's highest accolades.

This is an incredible and immense loss to us as his friends and colleagues, as well as to our antenna community as a whole. Our most heart-felt and sincere condolences go to their families and friends. May his soul rest in peace.