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Life
Charles Edward Bainbridge Brett (1928-2005; fam. Charlie Brett); b. Holywood, Co Down, 30 Oct. 1928; ed. Rugby College, and New College, Oxford (grad. History); elected president of the Poetry Society; spent a year in Paris as as broadcaster and journalist with the Continental Daily Mail; returned to Belfast and joined the family firm, 1950; solicitor and partner in L’Estrange & Brett, 1954-94; later Consultant 1994-98; issued Buildings of Belfast, 1700-1914 (Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1967); with Lady Dunleath, founded Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1967; Chairman, 1968-78, and President 1979-2005;
issued Long Shadows Cast Before (1978), autobiography; received CBE, 1981; Knighthood, 1990; acted as Chairman of the Hearth Housing Association; appt. member of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive at its foundation, 1971; Chairman, 1974-79, during which period 50,000 houses were built; appt. Vice-Chairman of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland 1994-98; first chairman of the International Fund of Ireland, 1986; sat on board of Architectural Archive, Dublin; organised public path on North Coast Ulster; also issued Buildings of County Antrim (1996), Buildings of County Armagh (1999), and Buildings of North County Down (2002); m. Joyce Worley, 1953, with whom three sons - Charles, Adam and Roger; he was also a member of the NI Labour Party; d. 19 Dec. 2005, Belfast.
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Works
Buildings of Belfast, 1700-1914 (Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1967).
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Criticism
There is an obituary by Patricia Craig in the Independent [UK] (24 Dec. 2005) [available online; accessed 13.05.2010; see copy - attached]. Others at Arts Council (NI) - online; and The Times - online.
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