Basic Biographical Details

Name: Donald Hugh Macpherson
Designation:  
Born: 9 May 1927
Died: 11 August 2000
Bio Notes: Donald Hugh Macpherson (whose surname was originally spelt McPherson, though later changed) was born on 9 May 1927, the son of Hugh McPherson, architect, and his wife Annie Gemmell Hunter. He studied architecture in Glasgow (his degree was later converted to BArch (Strathclyde) and was elected ARIBA and ARIAS in 1953. He was also a member of the RIAS. From 1953-54 he worked as an assistant with Glasgow Corporation City Architects Department in the civic buildings section. He then took a position as assistant in the office of Walter Neil Wilson Ramsay in Park Circus in Glasgow. In 1959 he was invited to become a partner. In 1961 he left to set up business on his own account at School Wynd in Paisley. In July 1969 he merged his practice with that of Thomas Gibson who would appear to have been helping Macpherson during the 1960s while Gibson was principally employed as a lecturer at Paisley College of Technology.

Macpherson described his practice as 'general'. He undertook many many alteration jobs (up to a cost of £15,000) which included domestic additions, shop and office alterations, agricultural, ecclesiastical and educational alterations and additions as well as range of larger new buildings. He designed a number of buildings for Paisley College of Technology the latter perhaps obtained through Thomas Gibson.

He was admitted FRIBA in 1968. He practised on his own account from about 1975. He is not listed in 1987 and must therefore have retired by that time.

He died on 11 August 2000 at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Greenock. He was survived by his wife Janet Buchanan McKay Spiers, a retired nursing sister and a son who lived in Aylesbury.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5Oakfield, Duchal Road, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate 2001 
Item 2 of 5Brendales, Thomson Avenue, Johnstone, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1953 *  
Item 3 of 5Glencairn, Shuttle Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1959 *After 1970 
Item 4 of 511, Park Circus, Glasgow, Scotland 1960  
Item 5 of 523, School Wynd, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1970After 1981 

* 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 1Macpherson & Gibsonc. 1970 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Thomas Gibson7 October 1970For Fellowship

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 1820 May 1960Midlothian County Council Buildings, Lawnmarket and Melbourne Place  Edinburgh, MidlothianScotlandplaced 2nd in competition per Builder p957
Item 2 of 181962Paisley College of Technology, laboratoriesPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandModernisation of labs
Item 3 of 181962Paisley College of Technology, sports pavilionPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 4 of 181966Paisley College of Technology, refectories and kitchenPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 5 of 181966Sandyford Parish Church and hallsPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 6 of 181967Factory for Chilton Electric LtdClydebank DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 7 of 181967Paisley College of Technology, laboratory blockPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandNew laboratory block - with Gibson but not yet in partnership
Item 8 of 181968Abbeyfield Old People's HomePaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 9 of 181968Elder Park Public SchoolGovan GlasgowScotlandAlterations ('improvements')
Item 10 of 181968Young Men's Christian AssociationPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandExtension and alterations
Item 11 of 18Before 1968FactoryJohnstone RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 12 of 18Before 1968Harbour Master's officeEyemouth BerwickshireScotland 
Item 13 of 18Before 1968Paisley Building Society officesPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 14 of 18Before 1968Private houseDollar ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 15 of 18Before 1968Private houseDunlop AyrshireScotland 
Item 16 of 18Before 1968Sports Centre for Glasgow Corporation  GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 18Late 1960sPaisley College of Technology, students' residencesPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAlterations to existing buildings
Item 18 of 181974Paisley AbbeyPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandRestoration including stonework, removal of plaster ceiling over nave and formation of barrel roof.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 6Allen, Nic (ed.) Scottish Architects in Conservation  p75
Item 2 of 6RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 6RIBA1961Kalendar 1960-61   
Item 4 of 6RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 5 of 6RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 6 of 6RIBA1981Directory of Practices 1981   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS Chartered ArchitectJuly 2001v12, no5 Death note

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 2RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership