Basic Biographical Details

Name: Diarmad Ronald Steele
Designation:  
Born: 4 May 1911
Died: August 2008
Bio Notes: Diarmad Ronald Steele, the son of a minister, was born in Inverness on 4 May 1911. He entered the University of Glasgow in 1928 at the age of 17, to study for a BSc in Architecture. In his first year, 1928-1929, he studied mathematics, natural philosophy, chemistry and freehand drawing. The following year he took construction, design, history and mechanics. In the 1930-1931 academic session he studied architecture III, civil engineering and reinforced concrete, whilst in his fourth year he took architecture IV. In his fifth and final year Diarmad studied architecture. He graduated in December 1932.

He then moved to London where he found employment in the LCC Architects' Department. He was admitted ARIBA on 3 December 1934, his proposers being Thomas Harold Hughes, William James Smith and another whose name appears to be H Leadbetter. His nomination papers give no business address, but give his private address as 34 Birchwood Avenue, Muswell Hill, London. He was still at the same address in 1968 when he applied to become a Retired Member of the RIBA. Later that year he moved to Australia, settling in Balwya, Victoria, where he briefly resumed practice but retired again in September 1969.

Steele retired to England and from 1979 was living in Sussex where he remained until at least 1994. He died in August 2008. Diarmad was married to Sheila McDonough.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 534, Birchwood Avenue, Muswell Hill, London, EnglandPrivateBefore 1934After 1968 
Item 2 of 542, Midton Road, Ayr, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate1950 *  
Item 3 of 5c/o The British Linen Bank/198, Piccadilly, London, EnglandBusiness1950 *1970 
Item 4 of 5Balwya, Victoria, AustraliaPrivate1968  
Item 5 of 518, Heathfield Park, Midhurst, Sussex, EnglandPrivate1979After 1994 

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1London County Council Architects' Department (LCC Architects' Department)October 1933After 1934Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Thomas Harold Hughes3 December 1934for Associateship
Item 2 of 3H Leadbetter3 December 1934(?)for Associateship - signature unclear
Item 3 of 3(Professor) William James Smith3 December 1934for Associateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 5RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 5RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 4 of 5RIBA1979Directory of members   
Item 5 of 5RIBA1994A Directory of RIBA Members   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Glasgow UniversityGlasgow University Archives GB 0248 GB 0248 UGC 112 Collection of Steele's papers
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no5584 (combined box 89)