With great sadness, the Scottish Mathematical Council has learned that Professor Edward McWilliam Patterson FRSE died on Friday April 5, 2013, aged 86 years.

He was Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Aberdeen.

Professor Patterson served as Chair of the Scottish Mathematical Council from 1974 to 1980. During this period, he was the driving force behind the introduction of the problem-solving competition Mathematical Challenge, which began in 1976-77 and continues to this day. He subsequently supported the running of the competition with great energy and enthusiasm over many years.