Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Farquhar
Designation:  
Born: 13 August 1918
Died: 19 December 2000
Bio Notes: Alexander Farquhar was born in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, on 13 August 1918, the son of James king Farquhar, engine fitter, and his wife Queenie Lonsdale Wilmer. He was educated at Coatbridge High School. He took the Certificate Course in architecture at Glasgow School of Art from 1937 to 1941 followed by the Post Certificate Course and at the same time served his articles with the Lanark County Architect's Department, remaining as assistant from 1940-41. From this time he gained 'valuable experience in the planning of schools'. In 1941 he worked for the War Department. He admitted ARIBA in 1944 and ARIAS ion 1955.

In 1964 he was Deputy County Architect of Lanark County Council working under the Chief Architect D Gordon Bannerman. This was a boom building period and many schools and non-housing works were designed during his tenure of this post. In 1967 he was appointed the first and only County Architect of Renfrew, combining the extisting technical departments of Education and Housing, led by Tom Hepburn and Jimmy Fulton respectively. He attracted a quality multi-professional team of architects, engineers and surveyors firstly at Barrhead and then in the new County Buildings in Paisley which produced a range of high quality buildings. These were recognised as such by Civic Trust and other awards. He remained in this post until Government re-organisation in 1975.

Farquhar ended his professional career as consutlant with the practice Miller & Black in Glasgow. He would appear to have retired by 1987.

Outwith his professional life, Farquhar had a great love of music. His family had been band-playing members of the Salvation Army and his love of music was instilled at a young age. He learnt the trombone from the Army bandsmen, but he also played the piano and the organ and took singing lessons from Elliot Watson who had also taught the legendary tenor Robert Wilson. He played the organ in churches all over the west of Scotland and was a member of the Society of Organists. For some years he was pianist for Ye Cronies choir. He was also an elder of Glasgow Cathedral.

His obituarist Jak C McDougall notes he was a 'superb organiser and leader yet unrivalled in his attention to detail in dealing with councillors and committees' and was a determined but sensitive architect who left a large legacy of well-constructed fine buildings'.

He died after an illness in the Western Infirmary in Glasgow, on 19 December 2000, survived by his wife Agnes Wallace Traquair ('Nancy') and his son Alexander, a schoolmaster in Sussex. He was a retired FRIAS at this time.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 629 Whittinghame Court/1350, Great Western Road, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate 2000 
Item 2 of 6DCRE Lanark South/Ardenclutha, Wellhall Road, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness1944 *  
Item 3 of 623, Clanrye Drive, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, ScotlandPrivate(?)Before 1944 *After 1955 
Item 4 of 634, Albert Street, Motherwell, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusinessc. 1964  
Item 5 of 661, Darnley Road, Barrhead, Renfrewshire, ScotlandBusiness1970 *  
Item 6 of 6The Gables/11, Elm Walk, Bearsden, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1987 *  

* 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 3Lanarkshire County Architect's DepartmentEarly 1960s Deputy Architect 
Item 2 of 3Renfrew County Architects Departmentc. 197 Chief Architect 
Item 3 of 3Miller & BlackLate 1970s1980sArchitect 

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 11966Bishopbriggs High SchoolBishopbriggs LanarkshireScotlandAs Lanarkshire Deputy County Architect

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 5RIBA1964The RIBA Kalendar 1963-64   
Item 3 of 5RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 4 of 5RIBA1979Directory of members   
Item 5 of 5RIBA1987RIBA Directory of Members 1987   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Herald, The23 January 2001  Obituary by Gordon Irving
Item 2 of 2RIAS Chartered ArchitectMarch 2001v12, no2 Obituary by Jack C Mcdougall

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 3RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership  
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no 8330 (Combined Box 208)