Architect followed in footsteps of his illustrious city ancestors
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AN architect who became the fourth generation of his family to run a successful city practice has died.
Christopher Sawday, 78, died following a short illness.
Mr Sawday grew up in Leicester, where he attended Woodbank School.
He attended Leicester School of Architecture at the Colleges of Art and Technology – eventually part of De Montfort University.
He spent some years practising in London, before moving back to Leicester to partner his father in the family practice originally started by his great-grandfather, Albert E Sawday.
Both A E Sawday and one of Mr Sawday’s other grandfathers, Arthur Wakerley, became Mayors of Leicester and prominent local architects, between them designing many noted city buildings, including churches, the Turkey Café in Granby Street and Lillie House in London Road.
A friend of the family said Mr Sawday served as a magistrate from 1984 until his retirement in 2011, by which time he had become a Day Bench Chairman.
The friend said: “He served on the Leicester City Council Conservation Advisory Panel for many years, where his long experience and sympathetic views were highly respected.
“During his professional career, Mr Sawday won awards for conservation projects he had designed.
“A keen sporting enthusiast, Mr Sawday was a member of Stoneygate Rugby Football Club and Leicester Squash Club, for which he served as chairman for five years.
“He continued to take an interest in both Tigers and Leicester City and among his other interests were stamp-collecting and classic cars.
“He was also a long-standing member and past president of Leicestershire Book Society and actively participated in the activities of Queniborough, where he had lived almost 40 years.”
Mr Sawday leaves a wife, Jane, and family.