Architect Sir Basil Spence died - On this day in Scottish history

Scottish architect Sir Basil Spence died on 19 November 1976. Spence was the son of an Orkney assayer and was educated at George Watson's College in Edinburgh and the Edinburgh College of Art. One of Spence's earliest commissions, gained through his firm Kinimonth and Spence, was a design for the Southside Garage at Causewayside, Edinburgh, which he designed in his distinctive Art Deco style.

Among his other works in Scotland were:

• Pavilions for the 1938 Empire Exhibition in Glasgow
• Broughton Place at Broughton
• Mortonhall Crematorium, Edinburgh
• Edinburgh University Library
• Gribloch House, Kippen
• Duncanrig Secondary School, East Kilbride
• Glasgow Airport
• Coventry Cathedral

One of Spence's most important works was the re-building of Coventry Cathedral, which had been heavily bombed during World War Two. Spence's design was chosen from more than 200 others in a design competition and work on the building begin in 1956, lasting for six years. Spence was knighted for his work in 1960, whilst the cathedral was still being built.

He died in Yaxley, Suffolk at the age of 69.