11 Facts About Hugh Casson

Hugh Casson was active as an interior designer, as an artist, and as a writer and broadcaster on twentieth-century design.

Hugh Casson was the director of architecture for the 1951 Festival of Britain.

Hugh Casson was the nephew of actor, Sir Lewis Casson and his wife, the actress Sybil Thorndike.

Hugh Casson studied at Eastbourne College in East Sussex, then St John's College, Cambridge, after which he spent time at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London and the British School at Athens.

Hugh Casson met his future wife, Margaret Macdonald Troup, an architect and designer who taught design at the Royal College of Art, while they were both students.

Hugh Casson wrote the book New Sights of London in 1938 for London Transport, championing modern architecture within reach of London, while remaining critical of the UK's record in innovative building.

Hugh Casson was appointed to his role as director of architecture of the Festival of Britain on the South Bank in 1948 at the age of 38, and set out to celebrate peace and modernity through the appointment of other young architects.

Hugh Casson was friends with members of the British royal family, and reportedly taught watercolour painting to Prince Charles.

Hugh Casson supplied watercolour illustrations for a new edition of Sir John Betjeman's verse autobiography Summoned by Bells ; The Illustrated "Summoned by Bells" was published by John Murray in 1989.

Hugh Casson was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1978, and a Companion of Honour in 1985.

Hugh Casson was elected an associate member of the Royal Academy in 1962, and a full member in 1970.