Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Thomas Rhind
Designation:  
Born: 27 February 1932
Died: 21 November 2004
Bio Notes: Robert Thomas Rhind was born on 27 February 1932, the son of Robert Rhind, master painter and his wife, Dorothy Hutson. He spent five years from 1950 studying for the diploma in architecture at Durham University School of Architecture, King's College, Newcastle. During these years he worked as a student apprentice with Gray & Paterson in Berwick-upon-Tweed and spent some weeks there during his vacations. He graduated with Distinction in 1955. He was elected ARIBA in 1956.

From June 1955 until 1957 he had a post as assistant to J H Napper & Partners after which he spent two years on National Service with the Royal Engineers, serving as architectural assistant grade A1. He was stationed at Farnborough in Hampshire. He returned to Napper in 1959 and was promoted in due course to senior assistant level with Grade D responsibility. In 1961 he moved to Michael Laird & Partners in Edinburgh where he was senior assistant architect and group leader, with responsibility for three major projects. Rhind spent 8 months with Gordon & Dey in 1963 but moved to Sir William Holford in the Edinburgh office as senior assistant.

By 1969 Rhind was an associate with William Holford & Associates and had responsibility for the Edinburgh office. At that time he was working on the design and construction of two projects for the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works. This work included presentation to clients and the co-ordination of user requirements and consultants. He had also been responsible for two shopping centres from inception to final accounts with responsibility for client relations. He lead the design and drawing office team on a project for central area redevelopment. He also undertook the preparation of reports and feasibility studies for clients in the private field.

Rhind prepared a general manual for the office in line with the RIBA handbook. He was responsible for the commencement of CBC production information and metric changes. He had organised the information library within the practice. He acted as office manager organising job porgramming, staff allocation and oversaw fee income and job expenditure, working in co-operation with the partners and other associates within the practice on matters of office policy. He was responsible for the research for and compilation of a High building Policy for the City of Edinburgh Council, working directly with Kenneth Whitfield and William Holford.

In 1964 he commenced practice on his own account from his home in North Berwick whilst still employed by Holford, with his employer's approval. He set up an office costing system with the assistantce of an accountant and carried out 35 small office projects including alterations and new build, mainly for private clients and estate development. However he reduced the amount of private work he undertook after being made an associate with Sir William Holford. In 1972 he was consultant to Berwick-on-Tween Town Preservation Trust but was still an Associate with Holford.

By the 1980s Rhind would appear to have left Sir William Holford and he developed his own practice which had a head office in Berwick-on-Tweed and a branch office in Coldingham. His home was in Earlston.

In 2003 Rhind was still working with at least two jobs in hand. By this time he had moved to Lilliesleaf in Selkirkshire. However serious illness overtook him and he died at Borders General Hospital on 21 November 2004. He was survived by his wife, Pearl Kathleen Horsman and at least one daughter.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 8Netherraw Mill, Lilliesleaf, Selkirkshire, ScotlandPrivate/business 2004 
Item 2 of 822, Melbourne Road, North Berwick, East Lothian, ScotlandPrivate/business1960s  
Item 3 of 86, Broadgate Green, Gullane, East Lothian, ScotlandPrivate1964 *  
Item 4 of 8Dunlaverock, Coldingham, Berwickshire, ScotlandBusiness19751980 
Item 5 of 810, Hide Hill, Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland, EnglandBusinessc. 1975  
Item 6 of 8Springfield, Fidra Road, North Berwick, East Lothian, ScotlandPrivate/businessEarly 1970s  
Item 7 of 8Carolside House, Earlslston, Berwickshire, ScotlandPrivate1980 *  
Item 8 of 8Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland, EnglandBusiness1980 Head office

* 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 7Gray & Paterson (or Gray & Patterson) 1970sArchitect 
Item 2 of 7J H Napper & Partners19551959Assistant Architect 
Item 3 of 7J H Napper & Partners19591961AssistantLevel C responsibility; latterly as senior architectural assistant with level D responsibility.
Item 4 of 7Gray & Paterson (or Gray & Patterson)Early 1950s Apprentice 
Item 5 of 7Michael Laird & Partners19611963Senior AssistantLevel D responsibility.
Item 6 of 7William Holford & Associates19631968Senior AssistantSubsequently associate
Item 7 of 7Gordon & DeyFebruary 1963September 1963AssociateWith a view to becoming a partner

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Bruce Allen8 October 1956For Associateship
Item 2 of 6William Gordon Dey4 June 1969For Fellowship
Item 3 of 6Graeme Gibson Dobson4 June 1969For Fellowship
Item 4 of 6M__B__Edwards8 October 1956For Associateship
Item 5 of 6Jack Hollingworth Napper8 October 1956For Associateship
Item 6 of 6Kenneth Waltham Whitfield4 June 1969For 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 11975Lions HouseBerwick-on-Tweed NorthumberlandEnglandRestoration. Working as Gray & Paterson.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA1980Directory of Practices 1980   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 4H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 4National Archives (via Scotlands People)Statutory births  
Item 3 of 4RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership  
Item 4 of 4RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no18159; F no6801 (Combined Box 161)