Basic Biographical Details

Name: Thomas Gibson
Designation:  
Born: 23 January 1930
Died:  
Bio Notes: Thomas Gibson was born on 23 January 1930. In 1947 he entered the office of Charles Davidson & Son as an articled apprentice and remained in this office until 1950 when he transferred to a post as assistant on the architectural staff of Messrs J & P Coats working in the office at 155 St Vincent Street in Glasgow. From 1952-54 he was an assistant in the Burgh Architect's Department in Paisley and from 1952 attended classes for the certificate course in architecture at Glasgow School of Art. In May 1954 he spent three weeks travelling and studying in France.

Later in 1954 he moved to another assistant post in the Motherwell & Wishaw Architect's Department where he remained until 1956 and was a member of the team responsible for the new civic centre. In the latter year he moved to the office of Taylor & Davie as senior architectural assistant. He completed the course at Glasgow School of Art, sitting the final exams in December 1957 and the professional practice exam in March 1958. He was admitted ARIBA on 8 July 1958, his proposers being Professor William James Smith, William Archibald Park Jack and George William Robertson.

Later that same year, 1958, Gibson transferred, again as senior assistant, to the practice of Alexander Buchanan Campbell. He would appear to have set up and run his own private practice as Thomas Gibson Architect. In 1960 he was appointed to a lectureship (later senior lecturer) with the Department of Civil Engineering & Building at Paisley College of Technology. However he had the authority to run his own small part-time practice at the same time. In 1965 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, after passing the direct membership exam.

In July 1969 he joined forces with Donald Hugh Macpherson (in whose practice he had helped as both architect and surveyor in the 1960s) as Macpherson & Gibson and from that time was principle in partnership. Gibson took responsibility for the Renfrew branch office of the practice. Initially the two partners had joint responsibility for most aspects of the practice: design work, office administration, site supervision and staff supervision. They undertook a wide variety of work costing from as little as £5,000 to £200,000 and included private housing, educational, industrial and commercial work. In due course Gibson acted more as the finder of commissions in the practice as his responsibilities in Paisley College grew.

Gibson took on a range of responsibilities beyond his profession. From 1963 he was Convenor of the Building Group of Renfrewshire Productivity Association. He was also a member of council and member of the Board of Governors of the Reid Kerr College of Further Education, Paisley. From 1966 he was a member of the Education and Membership Committee of the Scottish branch of the RICS and from 1967 he was the Scottish branch representative of the Education Policy Committee of the RICS in London. He was a lso a council member of the Rotary Club of Renfrew of which he was vocational service convenor.

A hoped-for post as Professor in the College did not materialise and Gibson moved to become Director of Technical Services at East Kilbride Development Corporation. In the later 1980s New Town Development Corporations were under threat of closure and he took early retirement in 1987.

However, through a friend, Gibson was appointed to the position of administrator of the Accord Hospice in Paisley, the funds for which were being currently collected. His knowledge of sites and buildings proved invaluable in the process of developing the hospice project. He was subsequently invited by the Department of Heslth for Scotland to be chairman of the new local Paisley hospital trust. He was involved with the process of electing board members and in due course one member took over as administrator of the Accord Hospice.

Gibson retired in 1995. He lives in Paisley.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 524, Brabloch Crescent, Gallowhill, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivatec. 1954  
Item 2 of 56, Well Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1958 *  
Item 3 of 5196, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1958 *  
Item 4 of 5Dunvegan/18, West Brae, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1963 *After 1987Needs to be checked. Conflict of information
Item 5 of 5Dunvegan/19, Southfield Avenue, Potterhill, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate(?)1970 *1988RIBA directory 1979 etc

* 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 7C Davidson & Son19471950Apprentice 
Item 2 of 7J & P Coats Architect's Department19501952Assistant 
Item 3 of 7Motherwell & Wishaw Burgh Architect's Office19541956Assistant 
Item 4 of 7Alexander Buchanan Campbell19561958Senior Assistant 
Item 5 of 7Taylor & Davie19561958Senior Assistant 
Item 6 of 7Macpherson & Gibsonc. 1970After 1972Partner 
Item 7 of 7East Kilbride Development Corporation1980s1987DirectorDirector of Technical Services

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6William Archibald Park Jack8 July 1958For Associateship
Item 2 of 6Donald Hugh Macpherson7 October 1970For Fellowship
Item 3 of 6George Gordon McDonald7 October 1970For Fellowship
Item 4 of 6Walter Neil Wilson Ramsay7 October 1970For Fellowship
Item 5 of 6George William Robertson8 July 1958For Associateship
Item 6 of 6(Professor) William James Smith8 July 1958For 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 161962Paisley College of Technology, laboratoriesPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandModernisation of labs
Item 2 of 161962Paisley College of Technology, sports pavilionPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 3 of 161966Paisley College of Technology, refectories and kitchenPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 4 of 161966Sandyford Parish Church and hallsPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandProbably assisting Macpherson but not yet in partnership
Item 5 of 161967Factory for Chilton Electric LtdClydebank DunbartonshireScotlandMay have assisted but no yet in partnership
Item 6 of 161967Paisley College of Technology, laboratory blockPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandNew laboratory block - with Donald Hugh Macpherson but not yet in partnership
Item 7 of 161968Abbeyfield Old People's HomePaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 8 of 161968Elder Park Public SchoolGovan GlasgowScotlandAlterations ('improvements')
Item 9 of 16Before 1968FactoryJohnstone RenfrewshireScotlandMay have assisted Macpherson but not yet in partnership
Item 10 of 16Before 1968Harbour Master's officeEyemouth BerwickshireScotlandMay have assisted Macpherson but not yet in partnership.
Item 11 of 16Before 1968Paisley Building Society officesPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandMay have assisted Macpherson
Item 12 of 16Before 1968Private houseDollar ClackmannanshireScotlandMay have assisted Macpherson but not yet in partnership.
Item 13 of 16Before 1968Private houseDunlop AyrshireScotlandMay have assisted Macpherson but not yet in partnership
Item 14 of 161969Young Men's Christian AssociationPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandExtension and alterations - as partner (partnership commenced 1969)
Item 15 of 16Late 1960sPaisley College of Technology, students' residencesPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAlterations to existing buildings - assisting Macpherson but not yet in partnership
Item 16 of 16Late 1960sSports Centre for Glasgow Corporation  GlasgowScotlandMay have assisted Macpherson but not yet in partnership

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5RIBA1964The RIBA Kalendar 1963-64   
Item 2 of 5RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 3 of 5RIBA1972RIBA Directory 1972   
Item 4 of 5RIBA1979Directory of members   
Item 5 of 5RIBA1987RIBA Directory of Members 1987   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Thomas Gibson: A no19323, F no7125 (Combined Box 179)