John Collas (usually known as J. P. Collas). In his obituary, he was described as being "the principal Anglo-Norman scholar of the day" and "one of the leading philologists of his generation." Collas was born in Guernsey in 1911 and was educated at Elizabeth College in St Peter Port before winning an exhibition to Jesus College, Oxford, where he obtained a B.A. degree in 1932. He conducted research into Norman-French, leading to a B.Litt. degree in 1934. He became a lecturer at Manchester University in 1936, moving to Glasgow University in 1937. He was a conscientious objector during the Second World War. After returning to Manchester University in 1946, he was appointed as Lecturer in French at Queen Mary College in 1947. He became professor and head of department in 1953, and remained at