A celebration of the life of a city architect was held at Norwich Cathedral – one of the buildings he worked on in a remarkable career.

The cathedral was packed on Saturday for the service of thanksgiving for David Mawson, OBE, who died aged 89 last year.

The work of Mr Mawson, one half of the award-winning Norwich firm Feilden & Mawson, ranged from designing buildings for the embryonic UEA to saving the historic High Court of Justice in Hong Kong, and also working on buildings on London's Hyde Park estate for the Church Commissioners.

Mr Mawson, of Gonville Hall in Wymondham, also served as architect to Norwich Cathedral and worked at St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh.

But he was also involved in a wide range of other roles, including the Norfolk Club, the Norfolk Society, the Friends of Norwich Museums, the Theatre Royal and the Norfolk Gardens Trust.

At Saturday's service, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, Richard Jewson, in his tribute to Mr Mawson, said: 'It is impossible to do justice to all David's work and commitment to voluntary activities.'

Mr Mawson is survived by his wife Margaret, and leaves a daughter, Diana, and son, Iain, and five grandchildren – George, Thomas, Alexander, Clare and Rowena.

George had been due to return from the USA to give a reading at Saturday's service, but was unable to get back to the UK because of the stormy weather.

But his brother Alexander stepped in to pay tribute.

He fondly recalled his grandfather's encouragement and positivity; his encyclopedic knowledge; his love of fruit pastilles and his steadfast refusal to wear jeans, despite his grandchildren's best efforts.