We regret to pass on news of the sudden and unexpected death of John Sell CBE, architect and heritage champion. He was taken ill whilst staying in the Caribbean and died in hospital in London on 30 May.
A highly-regarded conservation architect, John was Chair of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and for many years represented the SPAB on the National Trust Council. He was Chair of the Historic Environment Forum, Chair of the Joint Committee of National Amenity Societies and much else besides. He was one of the ‘four wise men’ who set up The Heritage Alliance in 2001.
His interests stretched far and wide: he was a leading figure in Europa Nostra for over three decades. He served as the Chair of the 7 Most Endangered Advisory Panel ever since the programme began in 2013 and also as Chair of the Advisory Board of The Best in Heritage. He was Executive Vice President from 2009-18, being awarded the Europa Nostra Medal of Honour by Placido Domingo in 2018 for “his outstanding and generous personal contribution to the development of Europa Nostra through his vast experience as conservation architect and heritage activist, combined with his unwavering and resolute conviction in European values”. John was a genuine European who instilled his passion for the breadth of European cultural heritage in everyone he met.
Secretary General of Europa Nostra Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović wrote ‘Our organisation remains hugely indebted to John for his immense architecture and heritage knowledge and expertise; for his unwavering commitment to the cause of cultural and natural heritage in the UK, across Europe and beyond; for his strong dedication to European values and ideas, as well as for his warm smile, kindness and generosity. We shall all miss him dearly. Up to us to continue his legacy carrying the memory of John in our hearts, minds and action’.
John had a huge sense of fun and was always making introductions and bringing people together. He was a kind and generous colleague and will be much missed by the many who knew and worked with him. A memorial service will be organised and we will try and find a way of alerting all who would wish to attend.
