The man who helped to design Liverpool's iconic skyline has died at the age of 97.
James A Roberts transformed Liverpool when he designed the renowned Radio City Tower which became the tallest building in Liverpool at that time and is the second tallest today.
Towering above the Liver Building , the architects designs came to life when the tower, also known as St Johns Beacon , was built in 1969 with a revolving restaurant at the top.
Today, the tower which sits beside St John's Shopping Centre is home to the radio station Radio City and is a popular tourist attraction.
The 97-year-old architect who left school at the age of 14 to pursue his destined career, died in his sleep, reports Business Live.
His daughter Alice said: "As a family, we are tremendously proud of the legacy he and his architectural practice leaves.
"This is both for his contemporary work, where he made a real impact recreating the post-war, Modernist skyline of Birmingham and Liverpool and, in complete contrast, his tenacious restoration of ancient monuments which have been protected for posterity and led to him being made an honorary member of the Ancient Monuments Society.
"His architectural style was pretty visionary."
Coming from good architectural stock, his father was Ernest S Roberts who designed several cinemas including the Art Deco 'Danilo' in west Birmingham.
Leaving school at 14, he worked for his father and attended night school to qualify for the School of Architecture, even taking an evening job at the Birmingham Post & Mail where his work included drawing maps during the Second World War.
Serving in the Home Guard, he was responsible for keeping watch for enemy bombers from a tiny shed on top of the Council House clock tower which inspired the idea for the grade II-listed Rotunda.
He set up his own business in his mother's house and the practice, which became James A Roberts Associates, grew until it took up most of the top two floors of the Rotunda itself before closing down in the 1980s.
Beyond the design of individual buildings, he was interested in how the urban landscape worked for people, berating Birmingham City Council for its focus on roads and cars rather than pedestrians.
Brutiful Birmingham, a campaign group which works for the preservation of the city's 20th century architecture, is a big champion of Roberts' work.
The group said: "James Roberts was a key figure in the 1960s regeneration of Birmingham.
"As architect of the Rotunda, he will always be remembered as the man who put Birmingham on the map.
"His contribution to Birmingham's cityscape also included iconic buildings like the Ringway Centre and 43 Temple Row.
"How sad that city planners are working with developers to obliterate the features of these buildings which speak so strongly of their original design and demonstrate the talent of this son of Birmingham."
James A Roberts is survived by his children Sarah, Alice, Charles and Richard and six grandchildren. His funeral will take place on Thursday July 11 at Test Valley Crematorium, in Romsey, Hampshire.
