Patrick Sims-Williams (born 1949) is Emeritus Professor of Celtic Studies at

Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth University ( cy, Prifysgol Aberystwyth) is a Public university, public Research university, research university in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding member institution of the former federal University of Wales. The universi ...

and founding editor of the journal ''

Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies ''Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies'' is a bi-annual academic journal of Celtic studies, which appears in summer and winter. The journal was founded as ''Cambridge Medieval Celtic Studies'' in 1981 by Patrick Sims-Williams, who has remained the jour ...

''.

Education

Sims-Williams was educated at Borden Grammar School in Kent. He took a B.A. at the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

, including achieving upper-second-class honours in the Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic

tripos At the University of Cambridge, a Tripos (, plural 'Triposes') is any of the examinations that qualify an undergraduate for a bachelor's degree or the courses taken by a student to prepare for these. For example, an undergraduate studying mathe ...

in 1972, followed by a PhD at the

University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university located in Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingha ...

Career

Following the early retirement of the Celticist

Rachel Bromwich Rachel Bromwich (30 July 1915 – 15 December 2010) born Rachel Sheldon Amos, was a British scholar. Her focus was on medieval Welsh literature, and she taught Celtic Languages and Literature in the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at ...

from Cambridge's Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at the end of 1976, Sims-Williams was appointed to a University Assistant Lectureship in the Department from the beginning of 1977.Michael Lapidge, 'Introduction', in ''H. M. Chadwick and the Study of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic in Cambridge'', ed. by Michael Lapidge, ''Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies'', 69/70 (2015) , pp. 1-58. He was promoted to a University Lectureship in 1980 and his position made permanent in 1982.'Appendix VIII. The Institutional Growth of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic Studies in Cambridge, 1878–1999: A Timeline', in ''H. M. Chadwick and the Study of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic in Cambridge'', ed. by Michael Lapidge ''Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies'', 69–70(Aberystwyth: Department of Welsh, Aberystwyth University, 2015), pp. 272–78 (p. 277). . In the assessment of

Michael Lapidge Michael Lapidge, FBA (born 8 February 1942) is a scholar in the field of Medieval Latin literature, particularly that composed in Anglo-Saxon England during the period 600–1100 AD; he is an emeritus Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, a Fellow o ...

, "it was characteristic of" the head of department at the time,

Peter Clemoes Peter Alan Martin Clemoes (20 January 1920 – 16 March 1996) was a British historian. Born in Southend-on-Sea and educated at Brentwood School, he originally wished to become an actor and won a scholarship to RADA but the Second World War ...

, "to have appointed a younger scholar with interdisciplinary range over the Celtic languages and literatures as well as Anglo-Saxon history, rather than a dedicated specialist ..in Old Irish or Medieval Welsh". Sims-Williams was promoted to Reader in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon in 1993. During the same period, he was a Fellow of St John's College. As 1993 closed, he left Cambridge, taking up the position of Professor of Celtic Studies at

at the beginning of 1994. In 1981, while at Cambridge, he founded the journal ''Cambridge Medieval Celtic Studies'', renaming it ''Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies'' in 1993 upon his move to Wales. Sims-Williams was elected

Fellow of the British Academy Fellowship of the British Academy (FBA) is an award granted by the British Academy to leading academics for their distinction in the humanities and social sciences. The categories are: # Fellows – scholars resident in the United Kingdom # C ...

in 1996, and is a member of the Medieval Studies and Linguistics and Philology sections. From 1998 to 2008 he acted for the

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW; cy, Comisiwn Brenhinol Henebion Cymru; ), established in 1908, is a Welsh Government sponsored body concerned with some aspects of the archaeological, architectura ...

as a commissioner and in 2011 became president of the International Congress of Celtic Studies. He was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Irish Academy in 2021. Sims-Williams has won a number of prizes, including the

British Academy The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. It was established in 1902 and received its royal charter in the same year. It is now a fellowship of more than 1,000 leading scholars span ...

Sir Israel Gollancz Prize Sir Israel Gollancz Prize is awarded biannually by the British Academy in honour of Israel Gollancz, a founder member and its first secretary, since 1924. Originally named "Biennial Prize for English Literature" and renamed after Gollancz's death ...

in 1992 (for his book ''Religion and Literature in Western England, 600–800''), the ''Antiquity'' Prize of 1999 for 1998's 'Best Paper' (for his article 'Genetics, Linguistics and Prehistory: Thinking Big and Thinking Straight', the

Cambrian Archaeological Association The Cambrian Archaeological Association ( cy, Cymdeithas Hynafiaethau Cymru) was founded in 1846 to examine, preserve and illustrate the ancient monuments and remains of the history, language, manners, customs, arts and industries of Wales and the ...

's G. T. Clark Award in 1992 (for his book ''The Celtic Inscriptions of Britain: Phonology and Chronology, c. 400–1200''), the Vernam Hull Prize in 2011 (for his book ''Irish Influence on Medieval Welsh Literature''), and

Jesus College, Oxford Jesus College (in full: Jesus College in the University of Oxford of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship S ...

's Francis Jones Prize (for his book ''The Book of Llandaf as a Historical Source'').

Publications

A list of Sims-Williams's publications, complete up to 2022, can be foun
here

References

20th-century philologists 21st-century philologists Academics of the University of Cambridge Academics of Aberystwyth University Anglo-Saxon studies scholars English philologists Fellows of St John's College, Cambridge Fellows of the British Academy Linguists from England People educated at Borden Grammar School Toponymists 1949 births Living people {{England-academic-bio-stub