Matthew Hill, Founding Member of LEDA
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing on 8th February of Matthew Hill, a founding member of LEDA.
Matthew set up LEDA with Jonathan Lindh and James Haigh in 1997, after a number of years running a general building company. Matthew was passionate about low energy design and was also the driving force behind LEDA becoming a workers’ cooperative in 2000. He established himself as a respected energy consultant and became a Chartered Building Services Engineer.
He worked as a local consultant for the Carbon Trust, guest lecturing for them and the BRE, as well as presenting papers at CIBSE conferences. Coming from outside the building services profession Matthew brought a fresh approach, and went on to champion lean and efficient building services design, ensuring that passive design was always the first solution considered. He taught LEDA to provide architects and clients with truly holistic design advice from feasibility to installation and operation, whilst always being sensitive to client needs and budgets. With his plain speaking, ‘no nonsense’ approach Matthew will be remembered at LEDA for very intuitive solutions, getting things done and being liked and respected by all those he worked with.
Towards the end of his career and after retirement he was heavily involved in supporting sustainability within the local community, contributing to drafting the Climate Change Strategy for Leeds City Council. He co-chaired the board of Headingley Development Trust and took an active role in the Zero Carbon Headingley group, responsible for Headingley Car-Free Street Fair. He was also a member of the Leeds & Ripon Diocesan Advisory Committee.
Outside work he had many pastimes, largely enjoyed outdoors. He was a keen gardener (showing in Headingley Open Gardens), sang in a number of choirs, and played piano and classical guitar.
Jonathan Lindh remembers; “Matthew’s passion and energy was infectious. He accumulated a broad knowledge of sustainability issues and combined this with a pragmatic approach to effective and simple solutions. His keen sense of humour and generosity made working with him a delight”.
Our thoughts are with Matthew’s family.
