Our friend Joe Holyoak
All of us who are part of the Moseley Road Baths community were devastated by the death of our very dear colleague, fellow-campaigner and friend Joe Holyoak. Joe was a founding member and Chair of the Friends of Moseley Road Baths, and a founding trustee of Moseley Road Baths CIO.
A brilliant, deeply knowledgeable architect, urban designer and conservationist, Joe was an understated and exceptional trustee colleague. His impact on us individually, collectively, and as a city, cannot be overstated.
As Stephen Hartland, Chairman of Victorian Society’s Birmingham & West Midlands Group, beautifully puts it in his tribute: “Above all, Joe understood Birmingham. He knew what the city had possessed, what it had lost and what remained worth fighting for. His knowledge had been accumulated not simply from books, but from decades of walking its streets, studying its buildings, practising architecture, examining planning proposals and participating directly in the conservation battles which shaped the modern city. That was more than knowledge. It was wisdom.”
He was, to put it simply, a legend. We will miss him terribly. Read the Victorian Society’s tribute to Joe here.
Celebrating & Remembering Joe
Joe’s family is organising a private funeral.
All are welcome to a large celebration of Joe’s life on the afternoon of Friday 13 November, at EH Smith Design Centre, 312-314 Bradford Street, Birmingham B5 6ET, co-hosted with Joe’s family by EH Smith Clay Products and Howells.
Please save the date – an eventbrite link will be available shortly to sign up if you would like to attend.
So many people have shared wonderful memories of Joe on social media.
In conversation with his family, we would love to collect as many memories of Joe as we can. We’d love to gather these in preparation for the celebration of his life, and as we think about ways to honour his legacy.
As well as recollections of working or spending time with Joe, we’re also looking for copies (or originals) of any sketches, plans, articles, doodles, models of Joe’s work that we can gather together. Can you help?
Please follow this link and complete the google form, and please share far and wide.
Thank you, Moseley Road Baths CIO & The Friends of Moseley Road Baths
