Alain Richard, the Technical Director of London slate company SSQ, lost a battle with cancer and died on 30 June. He was 55. Many readers who have been involved in the design or installation of slate roofing over the past 20 years will know Alain and have reason to be grateful for his expert advice. He was a true enthusiast and champion of slate roofing and had guided and advised many people about its use. In fact, it was Alain who is acknowledged as having introduced and popularised the continental ‘hook’ method of fixing roofing slates in the mid-1980s, and also proving that you can design low-pitch slate roofs.