Frank Chippindale - TrustNews August 1988
Writing an obituary for Frank Chippindale makes me realise how little most of us know about his past. That was Frank's way; in his company one talked about anything but Frank, and preferably some¬thing very much to the point. At some stage in the conversation - whatever its original purpose - it would, however, almost certainly turn to one's own affairs, because Frank's interests invariably included the well-being of his innumerable friends.
I cannot do it now because of an imminent holiday, but I think I must find out more. I know that in his youth he travelled to Japan and the States on a scholarship. I know he worked for an architectural practice in Chicago and was asked to take charge of their London office, turning down the offer because he did not sufficiently like their standard of design! He had his own firm, Frank Chippindale and Associates, which was responsible for schools, churches and housing. And of course we all know that he was the head of Architecture and Town Planning at Leeds, but did we know he also headed Architecture at Manchester School of Art and both Architecture and Building at Leicester?
There must be a great many ex-students who revere Frank's memory, for even Nick McPherson, who entered Leeds after Frank had retired, speaks of him as a "legend in his own lifetime". We know he carried out research for Nuffield College on Housing for Old People, and for the Leverhulme Trust on Furniture for the Working Class and Visual Education in Colleges of Education.
Then he "retired" to Winchester. It was rather an honour to be selected by such a man, especially one from Yorkshire! I met Frank and Mary when we joined with others to found the Winchester Consumer Group in 1968. It will not surprise anyone that it was not long before the Group had a special committee to deal with planning matters. In those days I learnt an enormous amount from Frank about how to write succinct and telling letters - my drafts would come back neatly corrected in red ink; he never took over, he guided and encouraged, and it was always a special pleasure to attend meetings when Frank and Mary were there.
Eventually it became the turn of the Preservation Trust to benefit from Frank's energy and expertise, and it was during his 11 years as a member of the Trust's Council that we learned to value, above all else, Frank's untiring dedication to improving the built environment, and most particularly to the education of people of all ages so that we could see for ourselves what needs to be done. He chaired the original Development Control Committee and continued as the convenor of one of its panels until his death. He was the inspiration behind the Heritage Centre, chivvying us to start something none of us could understand, and once started he joined its Management Committee, established and chaired the Urban Studies Committee, and was personally responsible for many of the lectures, guided walks and special conferences which have earned the Trust so much credit, not least with all the schools and colleges in the area.
It is impossible to mention everything to which Frank contributed in Winchester, his adopted city, but he will live on as an inspiration and a fond memory for all of us who knew him, and his name will be permanently recorded by his four "Street" booklets, the last being the much-acclaimed "St. Thomas Street" published at the beginning of the year.
His last words to me were "don't work too hard"; he worked hard all his life, especially in his retirement, and enjoyed every minute of it I suspect.
Footnote: We have just learned that "St. Thomas Street" has been short listed in the Voluntary Organisations category of the Wimpy Walks Awards 1988.