Basic Biographical Details

Name: Duncan Cameron
Designation:  
Born: 1 June 1929
Died: 28 July 2007
Bio Notes: Duncan Cameron (who is described as Duncan Cameron Jnr in RIBA directories) was born in the Gorbals of Glasgow on 1 June 1929, the son of Duncan Cameron, police constable and his wife, Robina Allen Richmond. He was brought up in Carntyne and at the age of eleven he won a scholarship to Allan Glen's School where he completed his secondary education.

From 1946 he served his articles in the office of Watson Salmon & Gray and at the same time studied part-time at Glasgow School of Art from sitting the RIBA final exams in 1950. He transferred to the office of Thomas S Cordiner in 1951 and moved to the Northern Ireland branch office in 1954. During this period with Cordiner he was 'responsible for the design of a number of churches for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Glasgow, a Church of Scotland Hall church and the crematorium at Linn Park in Glasgow.

He remained with Cordiner for eleven years in all and then moved briefly to work with Peter Womersley from 1962 to 1963. In the latter year he set up business on his own account in Galashiels. That same year 1963 he was elected ARIAS. The practice prospered and in due course offices were also opened in Hawick, Peebles and Kelso, carrying out a wide range of projects all over the area. Work included private dwellings, extensive housing developments for local authorities and private developers including central area developments in Galashiels, Hawick & Jedburgh. In due course the practice became Duncan Cameron & Associates. He was elected FRIAS in 1991.

One of Duncan's most satisfying achievements was the design and construction of his own house in Gattonside for which he won a Saltire Commendation. He was also pleased with his involvement in setting up the Eildon Housing Association. He designed a wide range of housing for the Eildon Association as well as work for other associations - sheltered housing, hostel accommodation, special needs accommodation for mentally and physically handicapped persons. He worked widely for the South of Scotland TSB with branch offices throughout the Borders and later work for the TSB Scotland. Industrial projects ranged from extensions to existing mil,ls and electrical factories to new advance factories for the SDA.

Duncan took an active part in the organisation of the profession, served on the RIBA and RIAS Councils and was President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association for two years. He also supported the Borders Architects Group and sat on the Church of Scotland Advisory Committee on Artistic Matters for many years. In that capacity he reported on all proposals affecting historic church buildings in the central Borders area.


Outwith his professional life he was interested in community affairs. He was a JP, served on a number of local committees and was chair of the Gattonside Village Committee at the time of his death. He also enjoyed tennis and was a keen supporter of his favourite football club. After his retirement in 1989 he travelled regularly to Spain and improved his grasp of Spanish and other languages.

He died on 28 July 2007 at Borders General Hospital, Melrose. His wife, Dorothy Eunice Bambrick, who was a retired architect, and whom Duncan had met while working in Northern Ireland where they married in 1957, survived him. He was also survived by their four children and five grandchildren.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 759, Glencorse Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessc. 1954  
Item 2 of 7Achnacairidh, Gattonside, Roxburghshire, ScotlandPrivate1960s2007 
Item 3 of 7Leacroft, Gattonside, Roxburghshire, ScotlandPrivate1963 *  
Item 4 of 739, Bridge Street, Galashiels, Selkirkshire, ScotlandBusiness1964 *  
Item 5 of 716, Channel Street, Galashiels, Selkirkshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19701979 
Item 6 of 73, Melgund Place, Hawick, Roxburghshire, ScotlandBusiness1975 * Branch office
Item 7 of 71, Wilderhaugh, Galashiels, Selkirkshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1991  

* 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 2Duncan Cameron & Associates1960s Partner 
Item 2 of 2Thomas Cordiner & Partners1960s Architect 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1James Andrew Cheyne MacFarlane1970s Assistant 

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 14 Linn Park Crematorium  GlasgowScotlandAs architect with Cordiner claims responsibility for the design in RIAS papers
Item 2 of 141960sBorder Counties Trustee Savings Bank head office     
Item 3 of 141967AchnachairidhGattonside RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 4 of 14c. 1969Housing redevelopmentGalashiels SelkirkshireScotlandRedevelopment Phase 1
Item 5 of 141960s or 1970sAdvance factoriesTweedbank RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 6 of 141960s or 1970sSupermarketGalashiels SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 7 of 141960s or 1970sSupermarketTranent East LothianScotland 
Item 8 of 14c. 1972Housing redevelopment, Old TownGalashiels SelkirkshireScotlandRedevelopment phase 2
Item 9 of 141970s or 1980sFree ChurchKelso RoxburghshireScotlandRestoration
Item 10 of 141970s or 1980s(?)House with indoor swmming poolMelrose RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 11 of 141970s or 1980s(?)Indoor bowling complexTweedbank RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 12 of 141970s or 1980sOld Parish ChurchKelso RoxburghshireScotlandRestoration
Item 13 of 141970s or 1980s(?)Students Union and halls of residence for the Scottish College of TextilesGalashiels SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 14 of 14Early 1980sSwimming poolGalashiels SelkirkshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 8Municipal Annual1964Scottish Municipal Annual1964-1965  
Item 2 of 8RIBA1954RIBA Kalendar 1953-54   
Item 3 of 8RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 4 of 8RIBA1975RIBA Directory of practices   
Item 5 of 8RIBA1979Directory of members   
Item 6 of 8RIBA1987RIBA Directory of Members 1987   
Item 7 of 8RIBA1994A Directory of RIBA Members   
Item 8 of 8RIBA Directory1968RIBA Directory 1967-68 Copy located at NMRS 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIAS Chartered Architect2007v20, no2 Summer issue - death notice
Item 2 of 2RIAS Chartered Architect2007v20, no3 Autumn issue - Obituary

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