Basic Biographical Details Name: | Duncan Maclean | Designation: | | Born: | 20 May 1924 | Died: | 16 May 2014 | Bio Notes: | Duncan MacLean was born on 20 May 1924 in Portree, the third of five children and educated at Portree High School. After leaving school he took a job as a postal and telegraph officer. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he enlisted in the Royal Signals Corps and was mainly stationed near Portsmouth, serving latterly in France.
After the cease of hostilities he decided to embark on the course in architecture at Aberdeen School of Architecture. He was elected ARIBA in 1954. That same year he married Violet Corless whom he had met at a dance in Portree some years previously.
His first post in architecture was with the Ross and Cromarty County Council in Dingwall. He moved to Edinburgh to work for the National Coal Board but he moved to a senior position in the Architect's Department, Northern Ireland Housing Trust in Belfast. He spent five years in Belfast (where his two children were born) but returned to Scotland in 1961. He worked briefly for Stirling County Council before taking a senior post in Lanarkshire County council’s Public Buildings Department.
MacLean arrived in Lanarkshire when the new headquarters for the Council were on the point of construction. The design was primarily the work of David Bannerman, the Deputy County Architect but Maclean was the team leader. The building was opened by the Queen Mother on 14 April 1964. MacLean moved to a new post with East Kilbride Development Corporation. He attended night classes at the Royal College of Science and Technology for a diploma in town planning. After the college became Strathclyde University he was appointed its deputy bursar with responsibility for estates and buildings, overseeing the creation of new university buildings and halls of residence. He remained in this post until he retired in 1985.
During his retirement he pursued various interests becoming an excellent golfer. He was also a keen fisherman and was involved with his church, Hamilton Old Parish Church, as elder and session clerk, Hamilton. He also took up painting.
He died on 16 May 2014, just short of his 90th birthday, survived by his wife, his daughter and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | c/o Francis/322, Clifton Road, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | 1954 | | | | Northern Ireland Housing Trust/12, Hope Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland | Business | 1956 * | 1961 | | | 12, Abercorn Crescent, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Private | 1964 * | After 1971 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 26 May 1961 | Roxburgh County Buildings | Newtown St Boswells | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Maclean's competition entry (no. 11) commended per Builder p990 |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA | 1954 | RIBA Kalendar 1953-54 | | | | | RIBA | 1957 | The RIBA Kalendar 1957-1958 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1964 | The RIBA Kalendar 1964-65 | | | | | RIBA | 1971 | RIBA Directory 1971 | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 26 May 1961 | | | 'County Offices, Roxburgh' pp990-993 | | RIAS Quarterly | 2014 | 18 | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | Summer 2014 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIAS, Rutland Square | Records of membership | | |
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