British champion of Islamic-Western dialogue A staunch British monarchist and convert to Islam, Abdelmalik Donald Rossley Eagle championed dialogue between Islam and the West. After a short spell of teaching in London, Donald applied for teaching of English, a job in Saudi Arabia, in 1964. He learned Arabic and absorbed the culture totally, eventually embraced Islam and changing his name to Abdelmalik Badruddin. He travelled widely throughout the Middle East, especially enjoying Yemen and Oman. In the mid-1980s he travelled though India for nine months. He returned to Britain to care for his elderly parents. He settled in Durham, enrolled at the University and got an M Lit in 1990. His thesis dealt with Ghayat al-Amanti and the life of al-Hadi yahya bin al-Hussayn: an introduction, newly edited text and translation with detailed annotation. Donald Rossley Eagle was born in Beddington near Croydon, Surrey. He graduated from Cambridge University. He could read German and spoke Italian.