TRIBUTES have been paid to architect David Hedworth who was responsible for many of Bridport's iconic buildings.

Mr Hedworth passed away on Friday, April 12 at the age of 91.

He died at Weldmar Hospicecare after a nine year battle with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lymph system.

He is survived by his wife Lynne, two children Simon and Sophie and two grandchildren.

Mr Hedworth was born in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands in 1932, but his family were forced to move to the UK in 1939 after his father was noticed by the Germans in the Second World War.

In the 1950s he moved to west Dorset and set up his own practice.

Mr Hedworth was an architect for 60 years and was responsible for the restoration of the West Mill and worked on Bridport Town Hall and The Chantry.

He also had clients including West Dorset District Council, Bridport Town Council, Purbeck Council and the National Trust, designing the original Hive Beach café.

In 1995 he married Lynne. Paying tribute to him, she said: "His motto was that no job was too big or too small.

"In 1976 he bought West Mill in Bridport and converted it into his offices and for that he received a Civic Trust Award.

"He specialised in historic listed buildings and became known for his sympathetic designs on projects across Dorset.

"In 1997 he moved out of his office in West Mill and worked from home in Burton Bradstock until he retired.

"He was 80 years old but always said he retired too early."

Aside from his architecture work, Mr Hedworth was well known in Bridport and west Dorset.

His wife spoke about some of his hobbies and what made him happiest.

She added: "Although architecture was his passion, his hobbies were sailing and classic cars and he was very proud to have once owned a 1937 Aston Martin

"He loved talking to people but not about himself, he was a great listener.

"He was never happier than reminiscing with his building friends.

"Even in his illness, he said there was always fun to be had in life.

"He had a high profile in the area, but he was at his happiest working with single clients and he favoured private contracts where he could become a part of the family and see the development all the way through."