Sir Neil Cossons obituary

Science Museum director and chair of English Heritage determined to impress the value of Britain’s history, architecture and culture on politicians Neil Cossons, who has died aged 87, wore a convincing disguise as a mild, respectable, affable, slightly conventional chap. But over a long and outstanding career in the museums and heritage sector – during which he was director of the Science Museum for 14 years – civil servants, trustees and ministers who battled with him over policy and funding discovered he was as tenacious as a terrier. He was determined to preserve and promote Britain’s scientific and industrial heritage and make culture accessible to all. In 2000 he became chair of English Heritage, the quango responsible for protecting the historic environment – since split into Historic England and the charity English Heritage, which cares for 400 sites and monuments. In his first year there, he led the steering group that produced Power of Place, an influential policy document produced in partnership with other heritage organisations, which stressed the value and potential of the wider historic environment including high streets, town centres and suburbs; it set the tone of hi