Basic Biographical Details

Name: Dudley Roberts Leaker
Designation:  
Born: 22 December 1920
Died: February 2006
Bio Notes: Dudley Roberts Leaker was born on 22 December 1920. He was elected ARIBA in 1951 and ARIAS in 1964. He moved from Stevenage New Town to Cumbernauld in 1957 and was appointed to direct the housing team of the New Town Development Corporation under the then chief architect Hugh Wilson (later Sir Hugh). During that time several of the housing areas received Saltire Awards for good design.

In 1962 he was appointed Chief Architect and Planning Officer. Under his direction the town grew and developed in all aspects of housing, industry and the town centre. In 1967 the town received the prestigious Reynolds Award for Community Architecture which was sponsored by the American Institute of Architects.

Leaker left Cumbernauld in 1970 and moved to Warrington in Cheshire where he oversaw the development of the town. He subsequently moved to Milton Keynes where he became Executive Director of Milton Keynes Development Corporation before 1979.

During his time in Cumbernauld, Leaker was involved in the town's social life, in particular the theatre. He was also responsible for the foundation of the Rotary Club in Cumbernauld.

Leaker died in early February 2006 at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital near his home in Church Stretton.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 6Cumbernauld New Town, Lanarkshire, Scotland    
Item 2 of 662, Broadview, Stevenage , Hertfordshire, EnglandPrivate(?)c. 1954 *  
Item 3 of 612A, Darroch Way, Cumbernauld, Dunbartonshire, ScotlandPrivate1964 *  
Item 4 of 6Milton Keynes Development Corporation, Wavendon House, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, EnglandBusiness1979  
Item 5 of 6Wilderley House, Clive Avenue, Church Stretton, Shropshire, EnglandPrivate1987 *  
Item 6 of 6Anchorsholme, Heighway Lane, All Stretton, Church Stretton, Shropshire, EnglandPrivate1994 *  

* 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 2Cumbernauld New Town Development Corporation19621970Chief ArchitectChief Architect and Planning Officer
Item 2 of 2Milton Keynes Development CorporationBefore 1979 Director 

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 10 Carbrain 13 and 14 HousingCumbernauld New Town LanarkshireScotlandLocal Authority Architect
Item 2 of 101962Carbrain 1 and 2 housingCumbernauld New Town LanarkshireScotlandAs Chief Architect and Planning Officer
Item 3 of 101962Cumbernauld Town Centre, Phase IICumbernauld New Town LanarkshireScotland 
Item 4 of 101962Seafar 2 HousingCumbernauld New Town LanarkshireScotland 
Item 5 of 101964Abronhill I HousingCumbernauld New Town LanarkshireScotlandAs Chief Architect and Planning Officer
Item 6 of 101964Muirhead III HousingCumbernauld New Town LanarkshireScotlandLocal Authority Architect
Item 7 of 101964Park 4 HousingCumbernauld New Town LanarkshireScotlandAs Chief Architect and Planning Officer
Item 8 of 101965Ravenswood 5 HousingCumbernauld New Town LanarkshireScotlandLocal Authority Architect
Item 9 of 10196722 Houses , KildrumCumbernauld New Town LanarkshireScotlandAs Chief Architect and Planning Officer
Item 10 of 101968Abronhill 3 HousingCumbernauld New Town LanarkshireScotlandAs Chief Architect and Planning Officer

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 9Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A1996A History of Scottish Architecture  p563
Item 2 of 9Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp30-1 Cumbernauld Town Centre
p170-1 Cumbernauld Original Housing Areas
Item 3 of 9Miles Glendinning, Diane Watters, David Whitham Docomomo Scotland Leaflet  p229 image of Seafar 2
p230 Cumbernauld Town Centre
Item 4 of 9RIBA1954RIBA Kalendar 1953-54   
Item 5 of 9RIBA1964The RIBA Kalendar 1963-64   
Item 6 of 9RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 7 of 9RIBA1979Directory of members   
Item 8 of 9RIBA1987RIBA Directory of Members 1987   
Item 9 of 9RIBA1994A Directory of RIBA Members   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Cumbernauld News8 February 2006