Alan Stewart

He was educated at Hyndland Secondary School and attended Glasgow School of Art, where, for seven years under an apprenticeship with Glasgow Corporation, he studied and qualified in architecture.

Alan's graduation coincided with the advent of the Scottish new towns and he worked for Cumbernauld Development Corporation until the mid-1980s, then returned to work in Glasgow, the city he loved and where he took responsibility for all aspects of urban design.

Much can be said about his work in the city, which ranged from creating streetscapes and giving design advice to the running of competitions and floodlighting schemes.

He will be best remembered, however, for his contribution to the redevelopment of Cathedral Square. It was no easy task to establish the right relationships with the principals of the various organisations, including Glasgow City Council, the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Cathedral, Greater Glasgow Health Board and the Scottish Development Agency, that were involved in the redevelopment. The proof of Alan's abilities is evident today to anyone who visits the square.

Alan led a very active life outside work, too. Common to all his interests was his ability to listen, and, in his inimitable way with words (he had a mot juste for every occasion), he would give his counsel based upon his encyclopaedic knowledge. That, combined with tenacity, were the strengths he brought to the many causes he championed.

Alan is greatly missed by a number of community councils throughout Glasgow, especially Kelvinside Community Council, of which he was a member for more than 20 years. He gave expert advice on planning laws and regulations, enabling councils to help preserve valued local amenities.

Dumbreck, Roystonhill and Hillhead community councils also benefited from his expertise over the years.

Alan was also very active in Friends of Glasgow West, which promotes the heritage and amenity of Glasgow's west end. Alan, along with his former colleague and "heritage guru" David Martin, provided conservation, architecture and planning expertise to the Friends. In one of his most successful campaigns, he helped secure a positive result for the community in the controversial Hyndland Church Hall public local inquiry in 2001; in 2002, Alan, with Audrey Gardner of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, spoke for the Friends at the "City Plan" inquiry.

When a close friend, Ann Laird, convener of Friends of Glasgow West, was writing her book, Hyndland: Edwardian Glasgow Tenement Suburb, Alan gave her the benefit of his extensive local historical and architectural knowledge. Patiently, precisely and politely, Alan proof-read drafts of Ann's work and added his thoughts. He was an excellent teacher and remained her valued mentor.

In the past two years, Hyndland Residents' Association has been revitalised. Alan worked on its new constitution, then joined the new committee, where as ever, he did sterling work with Neil Johnston, the president, to promote one of Glasgow's largest residents' associations.

Alan had a keen interest in the arts and particularly loved music. He was a founding member of the Robert McLaughlan Book Club, which, for the past eight years, has held public meetings addressed by speakers such as Shirley Williams, Gerard Hughes SJ, Bernard Wasserstein, Raja Shehadeh of Ramallah and Allan Massie. A member of Glasgow Art Club, Friends of Glasgow Cathedral, Friends of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and Friends of Kelvingrove Park, Alan will be remembered as a man who helped to make Glasgow a more civilised place. He is survived by his partner of many years, Sheila Cuthbertson.

• By Gwyn Kennedy, Ann Laird and James Armstrong