Moira Gemmill the former head of design and exhibitions at the Museum of London and director of design at the Victoria and Albert Museum, has been killed in a cycling accident, the fifth such death in London this year. She was hit by an HGV near the junction of Horseferry Road and Millbank, near Lambeth Bridge, yesterday morning.
Gemmill was prominent figure in the London arts world she joined the Royal Collection Trust as director of capital programmes in February.
Director of the trust Jonathan Marsden said: “We are deeply saddened and shocked by this tragic news.” He added: “In her very short time with us, Moira had become both a good friend and a highly respected colleague, and we shall miss her very greatly.”
Ms Gemmill, who was a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, spent 13 years at the Victoria and Albert Museum
Martin Roth, director of the V&A, said: “We are devastated to hear of the tragic death of our much-loved and respected colleague of many years, Moira Gemmill.”I cannot overstate Moira’s remarkable contribution in making the V&A the global leader in museum design that it is today.”She will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.”
Moira Gemmill studied graphic design and photography at the Glasgow School of Art. She began her career at the Aberdeen Art Gallery and in 2011 was made an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects., Scotland Yard stated, The 40-year-old lorry driver stopped at the crash scene but was not arrested.