Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Rome Tocher
Designation:  
Born: 22 August 1913
Died: 6 December 1989
Bio Notes: William Rome Tocher was born on 22 August 1913, the son of Alexander Rome Tocher, draper, and his wife Tomasina Margaret Reid. He attended evening classes at Glasgow High School from 1930 to 1931, continued into evening classes at Glasgow School of Architecture until 1933, and thereafter completed his studies at home. Meanwhile he served a five-year apprenticeship in the office of Bryden, Robertson & Boyd from 5 May 1930. On completion of his apprenticeship in May 1935 he joined the Dunoon firm of J R W Reid as architectural assistant, leaving at the end of that year to take up a position at Argyll County Council's Architecture Department in Dunoon on 1 January 1936. He passed the intermediate exam in Edinburgh in May that year, sat Part 1 of the RIBA final in July 1939 (becoming an Associate of the Glasgow Institute of Architects in that year), and passed Part 2 in December 1940, enabling him to be admitted ARIBA on 4 March 1941 (without proposers). At that time he was still working for Argyll County Council, where he would rise from the rank of architectural assistant to that of County Architect by the late 1950s, if not earlier - a post he retained until at least 1970.

He died on 6 December 1989 at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow. His wife, Isabella Gibson Gemmell, had predeceased him; his son reported his death.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 449, Johnston Terrace, Wilson Avenue, Dunoon, Argyll, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1939After 1941 
Item 2 of 4Firtree, Royal Crescent, Dunoon, Argyll, ScotlandPrivate1950 *  
Item 3 of 4County Offices, Cowal Hotel Buildings, Dunoon, Argyll, ScotlandBusiness1953 *1954 
Item 4 of 4Rosario/75, Edward Street, Dunoon, Argyll, ScotlandPrivate1989 * Address at time of death

* 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 4Bryden Robertson & Boyd5 May 19305 May 1935Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4J R W Reid8 May 193531 December 1935Assistantarchitectural assistant; type of firm unclear
Item 3 of 4Argyll County Council Architects Department1 January 19361950s(?)Assistant Architect 
Item 4 of 4Argyll County Council Architects Department1950s1970sChief Architect 

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 99 January 1953Dunoon Grammar Higher Grade SchoolDunoon ArgyllScotlandTo prepare plans for two-storey addition
Item 2 of 930 January 1953School, Arinagour CollArgyll & ButeScotlandNew school
Item 3 of 93 April 1953Primary School, DalintoberDalintober Argyll & ButeScotlandExtension
Item 4 of 91954New School Islay Scotland 
Item 5 of 91954Public School, Soroba RoadOban Argyll & ButeScotlandExtensions
Item 6 of 91954Rockfield Road Public Board SchoolOban ArgyllScotland 
Item 7 of 912 February 1954Housing, GlendaruelGlendaruel ArgyllshireScotlandNew houses
Item 8 of 91957Dunbeg Village HousingOban ArgyllScotland 
Item 9 of 91967Secondary School, CampbeltownArgyll Argyll and ButeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp15 Dunbeg Village Housing
Item 2 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 8Builder9 January 1953  p108
Item 2 of 8Builder30 January 1953  p216
Item 3 of 8Builder3 April 1953  p549
Item 4 of 8Builder12 February 1954  p320
Item 5 of 8Builder16 April 1954  p700
Item 6 of 8Builder28 May 1954  p958
Item 7 of 8Builder30 July 1954  p198
Item 8 of 8Building19 May 1967  p176

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no7834 (combined box 199)