John Henry Forshaw was born in 1895. He studied architecture at the University of Liverpool. He had wide experience in private practice in England and in the United States. He was chief architect of the Miners' Welfare Committee in the 1930s, and entering the service the London County Council in the July 1939 as Deputy Architect and became Architect to the Council and Superintending Architect of Metropolitan Buildings in July 1941 on the retirement of Frederick Robert Hiorns.

During the Second World War in addition to his normal duties he also led the London Heavy Rescue Service. This led to directing the War Debris Organisation which oversaw the disposal of debris from air raids.

As Architect to the LCC, in 1943 he was commissioned to prepare, in collaboration with Patrick Abercrombie, Professor of Town Planning at University College London, the County of London Plan for the rebuilding and development of London after the Second World War.

In December 1945 Forshaw left the LCC to assume the office of Chief Architect and Housing Consultant to the Ministry of Health.

He died in 1973.

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