Basic Biographical Details Name: | William John Fairweather | Designation: | | Born: | 28 April 1907 | Died: | 12 March 1983 | Bio Notes: | William John Fairweather was born on 28 April 1907, son of Glasgow architect John Fairweather and his wife Evelyn Donaldson. He was articled to his father in September 1925 and two years later commenced his studies at Glasgow School of Architecture. He graduated BSc in October 1931, passed the Professional Practice exam in Edinburgh in December the same year and received his diploma in architecture in June 1932. This enabled him to be admitted ARIBA late that year, his proposers being his father, Thomas Harold Hughes and William James Smith. His nomination papers state that he had travelled to Holland in 1927, to Belgium in 1929 and to Belgium and Germany in 1930. He became his father's partner in 1936 or 1938 (sources vary), probably having continued as his assistant prior to that date.
He served in the armed forces during the Second World War, initially as a Gunner in the Searchlight Regiment in 1940, then as a Lieutenant in the Assistant Garrison Engineer in India from 1941, as a Captain, SORE in the Army Command & Garrison Engineer in airfields in India from 1942, and in the same position in hospitals in India in 1945.
William's father died in January 1942 but he retained the practice and continued it under the same name of John Fairweather & Son and at the same address (29 Renfrew Street) after his return from active service in 1945. He appears to have used his name alone from 1947 until closing his practice to enter the employment of the University of Glasgow as Assistant Secretary and Joint Building Officer in 1958, being promoted to Principal Building Officer in 1964.
In this post he had responsibility for the building programme at the University. Thuis included all new University buildings; additions to and reconstruction of existing buildings; preparation of plans for expansion at the main University site and at the University Veterinary School and Hospital at Garscube; plans for new hospitals so far as University teaching departments are concerned; furnishing and equiping of buildings; general administration of building finance; reports on buildings; and advice on planning, architectural and aesthetic matters.
He was still in the post of Principal Building Officer to the University at the time of his election to FRIBA in 1968. He was proposed by John Andrew Carrick, William James Smith and Walter Underwood. In his Fellowship Nomination paper he gave details his role in liaising between users and project architects: 'interpreting the users' requirements in the form of a brief and therafter working closely with architect and user in developing the plans to be finally approved by the University Court' and 'seeing the work to through to completion'.
Fairweather took an active interest in professional matters. He served for several periods on the Council of the Glasgow Institute of Architects as well as on the Council of the RIAS; he was a governor of Glasgow School of Art; and he was a member of the RIBA Library Board from 1967-68.
He died at Mount Charles Crescent, Ayr on 12 March 1983. He was survived by his wife, Margaret Bishop Taylor, and a son, P Fairweather, who settled in Tillicoultry. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 182, Trongate, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | | | | | Glengarry, Whitehill Avenue, Stepps, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Private | Before 1932 | After 1934 | | | 29, Renfrew Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1939 | After 1950 | | | 155, Broomhill Drive, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1968 * | After 1970 | | | 18, Mount Charles Crescent, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland | Private | 1979 | 1983 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | John Fairweather | September 1925 | September 1927 | Apprentice | | | John Fairweather | After 1927(?) | 1936 or 1938(?) | Assistant(?) | Probably assisted for at least some of this period, prior to partnership | | John Fairweather & Son | 1936 or 1938 | 1947 | Partner | Away on active service 1940-45 |
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | Walter Neil Wilson Ramsay | 2 October 1968 | For Fellowship |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1970 | RIBA Directory 1970 | | | | | RIBA | 1979 | Directory of members | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Cinema Theatre Association Bulletin | November 1982 | v 16 | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from William John Fairweather, 1970; additional research by Iain Paterson | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no4965 (stored under F6006, combined box 113); F no6006 (combined box 113) |
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