Tributes paid to former Lord Lieutenant for Northamptonshire David Laing who has died aged 78

Tributes have been paid to Grafton Underwood resident and county stalwart David Laing who served as Lord Lieutenant for Northamptonshire and High Sheriff.

Mr Laing was awarded a CBE in the 2024 New Year’s Honours list and was the University of Northampton’s first Pro Chancellor – a post he took up in 2015.

A passionate supporter of communities across Northamptonshire, he was a big advocate for literature, taking part in the inaugural Kettering Festival of Literature in 2023.

Monica Ozdemir, secretary of Kettering Civic Society, and festival organiser said: “David was a member of Kettering Civic Society and he read his wonderful poetry at the festival.

"He was a huge supporter of all things community and was always interested in what was going on with the museum and the library.

"It’s a huge loss to the community. He was just an amazing person and such a great loss. He was so approachable and really special. I send all my condolences to his wife Mary and all the family.”

Mr Laing served as High Sheriff of Northamptonshire from 2010-2011 and served as Lord-Lieutenant of the county from 2014-2020.

Current Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire James Saunders Watson said: “David Laing was a wonderfully generous individual who gave so much to many organisations and groups in his adopted county.

"Since moving to Northamptonshire just over 20 years ago David, together with his wife Mary, threw themselves into county life. He brought an energy and dynamism to everything he was involved whether charities, such as Adrenaline Alley, the Northamptonshire Community Foundation and NAYC, or education and youth with his Pro-Chancellorship of the University of Northampton.

"Although Lord-Lieutenant for a relatively short time, just under six years, his impact was transformational. His enthusiasm and natural inquisitiveness in all aspects of our county helped to reinvigorate the office, and his presence became a common sight across the county.“A very humble individual he was at ease with everyone from Royalty to the nervous individual hiding in the corner and he had that unique skill of making everyone he met feel they were the centre of attention.“His interests and generosity touched so many organisations and bodies. A poet and architect he had a great love for the arts and supported organisations both locally and nationally, particularly the Birmingham Royal Ballet. We were all so delighted that his enormous contribution to both the county and further afield was recognised when he was awarded the CBE in New Year’s Honours list.“David’s death is a great loss to so many and his memory will endure for an extremely long time. In his passing I have lost a close friend and mentor and my thoughts and prayers are with Mary and his family.”

Professor Anne-Marie Kilday, Vice Chancellor, said: “The University of Northampton is saddened to learn of the death of David Laing, who will be fondly remembered as a friend to the university and its first Pro Chancellor.

"He took up the post in 2015 as the university was embarking on an ambitious programme of growth and development through the construction of its Waterside Campus.

"David brought his considerable experience in the construction and development industry and unrivalled expertise to the project, while his entrepreneurial background was a perfect example of dedication to inspire our students and those who met him at our graduation ceremonies through the years. Our thoughts are with his family and the friends he made in Northamptonshire and beyond during his remarkable life.”

Mr Laing was born in Devon in 1945 and is the second son of Sir Kirby and Lady Laing and the grandson of Sir John Laing, founder of the John Laing Construction Company. As a result, David grew up in an environment steeped in the building construction industry and has maintained a firm interest and a broad base of experience in construction.

He trained as an architect with Sir Basil Spence Bonnington & Collins in London before setting up a private practice in Hertfordshire.

He was a director of GHM Rock Townsend Architects until 1999 and chairman of Country and Metropolitan Homes until 2005, taking it on to OFEX and then to a main stock exchange listing, and growing to be one of the country’s larger housing developers, specialising in brown field sites, high quality and affordable housing. He was a director of Eskmuir Properties Ltd, the Laing family’s property company.

As an architect, he designed in both modern and period buildings, but has specialized in listed buildings and conservation area work. He has personally totally restored the Grade I Mackerye End, in Hertfordshire and a two-year full restoration of grade 2-listed Fermyn Woods Hall near Brigstock together with the restoration of the listed gardens at these historic houses.

Mr Laing is survived by his wife, Mary, and their four sons and one daughter, and eleven grandchildren.