Basic Biographical Details

Name: Francis Buchan Dinnis
Designation:  
Born: 1935 or 1936
Died: 22 September 1993
Bio Notes: Francis Buchan Dinnis was born in Chichester, Sussex, in 1935 or 1936, the eldest of the three sons of Frank Buchan, engineer. Buchan, as he was known to his family and friends, was educated in Shrewsbury, Shropshire where his father was burgh surveyor from 1946. From 1953 he studied architecture at the University of Edinburgh in the newly formed Department of Architecture and completed his degree in 1957. He was elected ARIBA in 1961. He began work with Basil Spence, Glover & Ferguson, later moving to Rowand Anderson, Kininmonth & Paul. Examples of his work can be seen in the extension to Daniel Stewart’s and James Gillespie’s schools in Edinburgh.

In the early 1960s Buchan went to work in Norway. He returned in 1965 and joined West Lothian County Council’s Architects’ Department where he remained until local government reorganisation in 1974. From then until his retirement in 1991 he worked in Edinburgh City Architects’ Department (later named the Department of Technical Services).

His life-long spare-time pursuits were rowing, sailing and photography. He had represented Edinburgh University at rowing during his student years. He won the Naaden Trophy for the International Hornet Class in Holland in 1974 in the boat he had built himself. He enjoyed the support of all his friends at Cramond Boat Club in this achievement.

He died after a long battle with cancer, on 22 September 1993, survived by his wife Hilary and their four children.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/business   
Item 2 of 2Kellerstain House, Gogar, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 1960After 1970 

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 2West Lothian County Council Architects' Department1965c. 1974Architect 
Item 2 of 2Edinburgh District Council, Department of Architectural (or Technical?) Services1970sAfter 1984Architect 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5RIBA1961Kalendar 1960-61   
Item 2 of 5RIBA1965The RIBA Kalendar   
Item 3 of 5RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 4 of 5RIBA1979Directory of members   
Item 5 of 5RIBA1984RIBA Directory of members   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS NewsletterFebruary 1994v5, no1 Obituary by Christopher R Dinnis.