Wilson Ralph Pinder- 1919-2008

Ralph Pinder-Wilson was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, and then joined the Indian Army, learning Persian. He became curator in the Department of Oriental Antiquities at The British Museum (1948), later made Deputy Keeper in the same department (1969-1976). He subsequently became Director of the British Institute of Afghan Studies in Kabul (1976-82) during which time he made studies of Afghan architecture including the Minaret of Jam.