A WAR hero who later became a well-known architect in Northallerton has died aged 95.

Robert Shaw Mortimer, known as Bob, died on Monday, January 19, was born in Bradford but was drawn to North Yorkshire from a young age because of his love of camping and the outdoors.

He joined the Merchant Navy aged 20 as a pacifist but encounters with Nazi U-boats led him to join the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve.

He was commended for bravery in September 1944, when in command of a small ship, HDML 1046, based at Ancona, Italy, he drew fire from shore batteries at Rimini while providing smoke cover for a destroyer as it bombarded the shore defences.

Earlier in the war, he was an ordinary seaman aboard HMS Aurora, before being selected for officer training in December 1941 and, as a sub-lieutenant, he was posted to Sierra Leone to work on convoy escort and anti-submarine duty off West Africa.

After de-mobilisation in 1946, he resumed his study of architecture at Leeds School of Art which he had started when just 16.

He met his wife Elizabeth while renovating an ex-Royal Navy Motor Launch vessel - similar to one he had commanded during the war – he planned to moor in York and live in.

The couple, both architects, married on April 12, 1947, and had four children; Anne, Robert, Garry and Martin - all architects and land architects - as well as eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

In 1949 they sold the ship to buy derelict mansion Ainderby Hall, Northallerton – a ten-year project that saw them convert the hall and grounds into an architects’ office and housing for staff.

Mortimer Partners won a Civic Trust Award for the staff accommodation, and other accolades including a Gold Medal from the Ministry of Housing for house design and construction.

Mr Mortimer was also a notable designer of local churches including chapels at the Friarage Hospital and in Romanby, St Hilda’s in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, and St Anges’ in Marton, Middlesbrough.

He also designed a Northallerton war memorial that was a swimming pool, and was involved in Northallerton Rotary.

His son, Robert Mortimer, said: “I will remember my father as a great family man who used to spend a lot of time with us as children.

“He was always a dog lover, and would take us on walks and camping trips in the Dales – he loved the area since he was a child.”