AN AWARD-winning architect and long-serving church member has died.

Colin Wigmore worked as chief architect at Kirklees Council and won a European Award for a housing development at Springwood.

Born on April 16, 1931, Mr Wigmore grew up in Marsh where he was in the Scout troop and choir at Holy Trinity Church.

He attended the first International Scout Jamboree in France after World War II.

In 1946 he joined the youth club and football team at New North Road Baptist Church. He played billiards in the Men’s Institute and badminton and table tennis in the Sunday School leagues.

In 1950 he was baptised and became a church member, teaching in the Sunday school and serving as a deacon for a number of years.

At his death he was the longest serving male member of the church.

On leaving school he was an articled pupil at Lunn and Lunn architects in Milnsbridge.

He later worked at Dewsbury architects’ department and after gaining his RIBA qualification worked in private practice at Abbey and Hanson, designing schools in the West Riding. He took a further town planning degree and worked for Kirklees Council, becoming chief architect.

In 1952 Colin married Hazel at New North Road Baptist Church. Six months later he was called up for two years National Service and posted to Gibraltar to measure and record wartime tunnels and facilities in the Rock.

He spent 10 years designing and supervising the building of his own house and a bungalow for his mother-in-law. In 1989 he took early retirement but then suffered a major heart attack.

On recovery, he took up crown green bowling forming a team of men from the church to play each Monday morning in Greenhead Park. He also joined Lowerhouses Bowling Club.

He supported Huddersfield Rugby League Club, and was also keen on billiards, hill walking, dancing, gardening and dog walking.

He was also president of the Sunday School League and in the 1990s he re-wrote the League Constitution, which is still used today.

Over the years he travelled through Europe,Turkey, Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, North America, Mexico, Cuba, China and Hong Kong and across South America.

He leaves his wife Hazel and daughter Luise. The funeral service will be held at New North Road Baptist Church at 11 am this Friday January 20.