Sad announcement
Michael Ian Hales Dip Arch (Leics) MaPS RIBA – 1950-2021
It is with great sadness that we announce the death at home in Scotland on 7th May 2021 of our former colleague, partner and Director of BRP Architects, Michael Hales.
Michael joined the practice then known as Bundey & Rodgers in 1982 joining founding partners John Bundey & Tony Rodgers in their small office on Market Harborough’s High Street.
Following the practice’s move to larger premises in Miller’s Yard and with his very keen interest in technology, it was undoubtedly Michael’s influence that led the office to introducing computer aided design in the early 1980s way ahead of many other smaller practices at the time.
Michael Joined John and Tony to become a Partner in 1988 and, as the practice evolved, a Director of BRP Architects in 2010.
Michael led BRP’s Residential Team, covering both small and large housing developments.
Michael’s retirement in 2011 heralded a new chapter in his life when he and wife Lesley left their native Leicestershire and moved to France to enjoy retirement in the small town of St Jacut De Mene.
Initially they were occupied by the completion of the restoration and extension of their stone Bretagne cottage and managing the surrounding small woodland that they had purchased some years earlier.
Michael and Lesley travelled a lot during their early retirement and indeed Michael bought a motorbike for roaming around the local countryside, eventually upgrading to a full-blown tourer.
Life there involved all sorts of ‘native’ pastimes, including hosting the village art classes, playing lots of Boules, French lessons and of course imbibing much of the local vino at every opportunity. Such was their happiness and being at ease they filed for French Residency.
As a result of the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and failing health, Michael and Lesley moved back to the UK a couple of years ago and settled in Scotland to be closer to their family and were delighted when they became proud first-time grandparents to Daisy, who was born at the end of April.
Although of a quiet nature, Michael was a very caring and thoughtful man with a very droll sense of humour, who will be much missed by all who knew him.
