We are sorry to learn that Ronald Houghton, who graduated from the Architectural Association (AA) in 1971, passed away in January. Coming from a modest family background, Ron attended an evening design course in West Ham, where his teacher recognised his talent and recommended him to the AA. After graduating, Ron travelled to Cuba and worked in Bahrain for two years where he became a friend of Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, first Emir of Bahrain, before sailing with his young family from the UK to Portugal, where he settled for the following decades, working on large private houses, hotels and urbanisations that were celebrated and published at the time. He lived a full life, from legendary parties in the 1970s that featured in Punch magazine, to his passion for sailing and aerobatic piloting. He was still playing tennis aged 92. He will be sorely missed.