Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, has paid a tribute to Chairman, Lord Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, who died on August 14, after a long battle with cancer
Simon said: "In his year with English Heritage, Sandy made a great contribution to our work, battling hard for us in last year's spending review and securing a reversal of our real-term cash decline for the first time in 10 years.
"His gentle wisdom and insight into what people really care about; his knowledge of local government and his standing in the House of Lords will be a great loss.
"His family and friends have lost a much loved, courageous man; the nation has lost a heritage crusader and the staff here at English Heritage have lost a respected leader."
A former farmer, Lord Bruce-Lockhart was leader of Kent County Council for seven years and was formerly chair of the Local Government Association. Appointed OBE in 1995, he was knighted in 2003 and became a life peer in 2006.
He recently secured Government backing for the English Heritage's plans for Stonehenge and is well known for successfully opposing the proposed route of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link which would have damaged much of the Kent countryside.