34 C O N T E X T 8 1 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 3 Obituary Gus Astley: larger than life and committed to quality Gus was a loving and remarkable husband and father, caring and knowledgeable conservationist, scout leader, Morris dancer, choir member, lecturer,Welsh speaker, assistant editor of Context (1991-94), Association of Conservation Officers membership secretary, and subsequently membership secretary of the IHBC from its foundation to his death. All in all, he was a larger-than-life man who lived life to the full. Gus loved historic buildings and was passionately committed to their conservation, sharing enthusiastically his honesty, commitment and concern for their wellbeing and future. Gus was a great raconteur, always sharing stories and jokes, often with the famous preface ‘In my previous authority…’ When he took up his post in Bath in 1989, one of the first things he commented on was the low specification standards for grant-aided repairs. As the result, weights of lead for roofs were immediately increased beyond Lead Development Association recommendations to ‘Gus’s conservation standards’. Gus shared this considerable knowledge with the Bath Preservation Trust, on whose renovations committee he served for many years. Gus was always willing to help others (especially if the cause of concern was a computer or a digital camera), often at the expense of his own work. His drawing skills were wonderful. He loved calligraphy and used his pen beautifully. Gus stood for quality. In Bath, one has only to look at the detailing and overall excellence of the former Empire Hotel, the Old Police Station and, of course, the Thermae Bath Spa to see the very real and practical results of his influence. Gus was instrumental in the painstaking restoration of Prior Park after its devastating fire. He was brilliant at public inquiries. Gus always had a very gentle, persuasive and caring manner. The notes of his 1989 Bath interview record his appearance as ‘Relaxed – bow tie’ – the very essence of Gus. Gus had the foresight and talent to grasp the potential of new technology. He devised an excellent electronic database of Bath’s listed buildings (and more recently extended it to include the whole of Bath and North East Somerset).These talents were also brought to bear on the formerly less than meticulous ACO and IHBC systems. He established the membership database, an effective subscription tracking system, and he championed the ‘virtual office’ concept for the institute. His skills allowed the evolution of the IHBC labels service, which grew in profitability in each successive year up to his death. Gus was tremendously proud of having been Lethaby and Sir Banister Fletcher Scholar of SPAB in 1971. The Those who knew Gus through work or the institute will recall his pride and deep commitment to his family, Sheila and his two sons Peter and Richard. Our thoughts are with them.We will remember Gus in lots of ways: his courage and fortitude, his charm, his sense of fairness – even his Waitrose carrier bag filing system. Above all, we will remember a dear and loving friend and colleague. Gus Astley (1947-2003), conservationist and IHBC membership secretary.These words are adapted from the memorial addresses delivered by David McLaughlin and Malcolm Airs at Gus’ funeral on 18 August. Dear IHBC members, Gus died peacefully at home after a long battle with cancer. He maintained his job as membership secretary right until the last couple of months. He really enjoyed working for the IHBC and it helped keep him going at difficult times over the last two years. I know he felt privileged to work with you all. I would like to thank all those members of the institute who supported Gus during his illness, and myself after his death. I have received so many cards and letters of support it has been overwhelming. Thank you to one and all. Sheila Astley SPAB imbued all his work. At his office retirement party in Bath in February, Gus quoted fromWilliam Morris’ SPAB Manifesto and John Ruskin’s ‘Lamp of Memory’. Since his own SPAB scholarship meant so much to him, the institute proposes to establish a memorial fund to commemorate Gus’ life and work. The details have yet to be resolved, but they may involve a scholarship in his memory. Sporting his trademark bow tie, Gus holds up the drawing of Bath’s Empire Hotel by David McLaughlin, presented to him on his early retirement from Bath & East Somerset earlier this year.The conservation and conversion of the Empire was a personal triumph for Gus.
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