Renowned historian dies aged 44 (From Gazette & Herald)

Renowned historian dies aged 44

THE family of renowned architectural historian Giles Worsley have said they are "devastated" by his death.

Giles Arthington Worsley died on Tuesday last week at the age of 44, after a long battle with cancer.

Dr Worsley was one of four children of Sir Marcus and the late Lady Bridget Worsley, of Hovingham, and a nephew of the Duchess of Kent.

Peter Worsley has paid tribute to his brother. He said: "It's devastating. The only solace is that we are a strong family, and can gather round.

"We had known for a year that Giles had been unwell. He kept busy right up until the end. Just 10 days ago, he was in Oxford giving a lecture, something he was absolutely determined to do.

"Since he was diagnosed, he wrote and completed one book, which is coming out in March, and he almost finished a second book, which a colleague will complete for him.

"That is a sense of how he responded to the diagnosis - absolutely the opposite of giving up."

The close-knit community of Hovingham was also in shock at the news of Dr Worsley's death. Alick James, chairman of Hovingham Parish Council, said: "Many people around here knew him by reputation for his work, and respected him for what he did. Some people in Hovingham have never met him, but because it is such a close community there is a feeling of shock within the village. Dr Worsley will be sadly missed."

Dr Worsley was the second son of Sir Marcus and the late Lady Bridget Worsley and was brought up with his brothers William and Peter and his sister Sarah at Hovingham Hall, and later followed family tradition by reading history at New College, Oxford.

From there, he studied the history of art at the prestigious Courtauld Institute. One of his first published works was an article in Country Life magazine about Middlethorpe Hall, not far from the family home at Hovingham. Dr Worsley was just 24. At the time, his father said: "Giles has a strong bent for history and increasingly as he is getting older he is specialising in architectural history."

Sir Marcus was soon proved right. Highly regarded in his field, Dr Worsley became an architecture critic for the Daily Telegraph, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Historical Research and a respected architectural consultant.

Last summer Dr Worsley also used his skills to help to restore architectural features of various parts of Hovingham Hall itself.

Peter Worsley added: "Giles was a great lover of Yorkshire, and his love of Hovingham in particular was at the very core of what he did."

Dr Worsley married the writer Joanna Pitman in 1996. A spokesperson for the family said: "Their marriage was a model of love and contentment and they had three adored children - Alice, Emma and Lucy. He will be remembered as a devoted son, brother, husband and father."

He was diagnosed with cancer and died on Tuesday, January 17.

His funeral service will be held at 2pm tomorrow (Thursday) at All Saints' Church, Hovingham. A service of celebration for his life will be held at St George's, Hanover Square, London, on Thursday, March 9, at 3pm.

Updated: 14:37 Wednesday, January 25, 2006