Architect who helped disabled dies

A NOTTINGHAM architect who used his expertise to improve the lives of the disabled has died.

Selwyn Goldsmith, who was born in Newark, on December 11 1932, studied architecture at Cambridge University but was struck by the polio virus in the same year he qualified.

The disease left him paralysed down one side of his body.

He met the founders of the Polio Research Fund and discussed the idea of a manual on architectural planning for disabled access to buildings.

Mr Goldsmith was selected to write the text and in 1973 the guide Designing For The Disabled was released.

Discussions he had with disabled people while compiling later editions of the text led, for the first time, to the ramped kerb.

Mr Goldsmith was also heavily involved in drafting the British Standard Institution code of practice, which covered access for the disabled to public buildings.

He died on April 3, aged 78 and is survived by his wife and two sons.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503354/s/140c4726/l/0L0Sthisisnottingham0O0Cnews0CArchitect0Ehelped0Edisabled0Edies0Carticle0E3428880A0Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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