Laurie Caygill, who died earlier this month, qualified as an architect in 1972, and started on a career to which he devoted time and attention.
After working in Bradford and Scarborough, he began work at Eden District Council in 1983, during a time when the architects’ department was involved in the refurbishment of Penrith’s Mansion House, the building of the town’s bandstand and a number of housing projects.
Later he worked in private practice, working for Unwin Jones Partnership, Carlisle, then independently for a number of years.
Much of his independent work was in the Patterdale area, and included the design of Patterdale mountain rescue team’s new headquarters.
There were also many barn conversions and refurbishments in the Eden Valley. Family life was important to him, he was immensely proud of his two sons, Michael and Paul, and his grandchildren.
He made his home in the Eden Valley with his wife Mary and sons and spent time walking and horse riding in the countryside close to home and fell walking in the Lake District.
A keen photographer, who in the 1960s and 70s would develop and print his own photographs, he continued the interest throughout his life.
He had an eye for a good composition and made interesting photographs out of sometimes mundane subjects.
Other hobbies included gardening and dancing — country dancing, ballroom and salsa included. Diagnosed with prostate cancer 25 years ago, despite many rounds of gruelling treatment he learned to live and enjoy life with the disease.
He finally lost the battle at the beginning of November.
