Michael Pearce 1938 - 2025

We are sad to announce the death of Michael Pearce on 26th December 2025 aged 87, following prolonged illness.

Michael (Mike) was a prime mover in raising awareness of the historic environment in the 1970s. He set up the Historic Buildings Bureau (HBB), with a staff of 6, within the Hampshire County Council (HCC) planning dept in 1976 not only to assist HCC but also to provide advice and encouragement to the newly formed District Councils. Gradually some of these Districts designated members of their own planning staff to be responsible for the conservation of historic buildings and the HBB assisted with guidance and training.

In the early 1980s a group of these new “Conservation Officers” joined Mike at his usual “watering hole” the Dolphin Pub in Winchester and the Association of Conservation Officer (ACO) was born with a few notes on the back of a beer mat. This started as a self-help group as there was no official body to assist this new vocation. An occasional A4 newsletter was produced and gradually others from further afield were drawn in.

He also encouraged others with a professional interest in building conservation to join the group and linked up with officers from English Heritage and Government.

As the role of the conservation officer became nationally recognised the movement outgrew its humble ACO origins and the more professional Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) was created.

Mike was also the instigator in setting up The Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT) in 1975 and the HBB assisted with technical support.

He also worked hard in creating a grant system for historic building repairs in Hampshire and attracted funding from district and national sources.

Out of hours, Mike was also a District Councillor in Salisbury where he eventually became Council Leader. This greatly assisted in him promoting building conservation not only in Salisbury but also in talking to Hampshire local politicians on an equal footing.

In the 1980s Mike took an increasing interest in encouraging building conservation nationally and this resulted in his move to English Heritage in the late 1980s.

As Head of Historic Areas Division of English Heritage, he took over from Alfie Wood, a team concentrating on historic places, working extensively with local authorities on Town Schemes and other grants and dealing with consultations on major applications in conservation areas. He fostered links with the Housebuilders Federation, developers, and encouraged the creation of the Historic Towns Forum. A reorganisation of English Heritage into regional teams with all disciplines saw Mike lose his role and move off to consultancy.

Mike was always a great supporter and mentor for the newly developing conservation professionals and many of us owe him a great debt of gratitude for encouraging our own careers.

Michael is survived by his wife Heather, his children, Alexandra, Philip and Catherine, and by his grandchildren Florence and Beatrice.