A tribute to Lord Bruce-Lockhart, Chairman of English Heritage, who died 14 August 2008
Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage
In his year with English Heritage, Sandy made a great contribution to our work, battling hard for us in last year's spending review and securing a reversal of our real-term cash decline for the first time in 10 years. Recently, he also achieved a major breakthrough in our plans for Stonehenge, convincing Ministers that a new, affordable scheme was worth Government backing.
Sandy was a well-known Kent resident and had a particular love for its rich historic heritage. Kent has always been on the front pages in the story of our islands, from the Roman invasion of AD43 to the Channel Tunnel and it was the latter that in fact spurred him to get involved in local politics and take up his first heritage crusade. He successfully opposed the proposed route of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link which would have damaged much of his beloved countryside.
He had a particular affection for Canterbury Cathedral but it wasn't just the rich and grand places that he loved. He also treasured the hidden heritage of ordinary people in the rural farmhouses and in the urban terraces, in the seaside at Margate and in the suburbs of Maidstone and Chatham.
His gentle wisdom and insight into what people really care about; his knowledge of local government and his standing in the House of Lords will be a great loss.
His family and friends have lost a much loved, courageous man; the nation has lost a heritage crusader and the staff here at English Heritage have lost a respected leader. We shall all miss him and our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
14 August 2008
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