Basic Biographical Details

Name: Ronald Thompson Cunningham
Designation:  
Born: 3 August 1905
Died: 20 July 1975
Bio Notes: Ronald Thompson Cunningham was born on 3 August 1905, the son of James Cunningham, club janitor, and his wife, Mary McNab. He was articled to James Davidson & Son, Coatbridge from April 1923 until August 1928. During this period he attended continuation classes in Building and Architecture at with a view to obtaining a senior Certificate in Building. However he did not complete the course.

In August 1928 he took a position as junior assistant with Baird & Thomson in Glasgow and remained with them until January 1930. At this point he moved to Dumbarton as assistant with the County Council working under Joseph Weekes who was Chief Architect. He remained in Dumbarton until August 1936 when he moved to Lanark County Council, Property & Housing Department remaining at least until he sat the final exam in July 1946 and was admitted ARIBA in December of that year. He was proposed by Joseph Weekes, Lockhart Hutson and John Maurice Arthur.

At some point in the 1950s he moved to work for the Western Regional Hospital Board and subsequently became Regional Architect.

Cunningham died on 20 July 1975 at the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow. His wife, Janet Alexander, had predeceased him.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 130, Clyde Street, Cliftonville, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1950After 1963 

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 5James Davidson & SonApril 1923August 1928Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Baird & ThomsonAugust 1928January 1930Junior Assistant 
Item 3 of 5Dumbarton County Architect's OfficeJanuary 1930August 1936Assistant 
Item 4 of 5Lanarkshire County Architect's DepartmentAugust 19361946AssistantIn Property and Housing Department
Item 5 of 5Western Regional Hospital BoardEarly 1950s(?) Deputy Architect 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Maurice Arthur10 December 1946For Associateship
Item 2 of 3Lockhart Whiteford Hutson10 December 1946For Associateship
Item 3 of 3Joseph Weekes10 December 1946For Associateship

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 3Early 1950sVale of Leven HospitalAlexandria DunbartonshireScotlandAs Deputy Chief Architect for Western Regional Hospital Board
Item 2 of 31964Lightburn Infectious Deseases Hospital  GlasgowScotlandRebuilding as geriatric hospital
Item 3 of 31968Canniesburn Hospital, Plastic Surgery Unit Bearsden GlasgowScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp12, p169 Vale of Leven Hospital
Item 2 of 4RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 4RIBA1964The RIBA Kalendar 1963-64   
Item 4 of 4Williamson, Riches, Higgs1990Glasgow (The Buildings of Scotland)  p438

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Architects Journal3 November 1955  p587 (named as Deputy Chief Architect for Western Regional Hospital Board for Vale of Leven Hospital)

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 no8788 (Combined box 217)