Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Findlay
Designation:  
Born: 22 September 1896
Died: 5 October 1957
Bio Notes: John Findlay was born on 22 September 1896 at Brechin, Angus, the son of John Findlay, shoemaker, and his wife Ivan Bennet. He was a pupil of David Wishart Galloway of Brechin from 1911 to 1915. His early career was interrupted by the First World War, at the end of which he returned to Galloway's office as an assistant. In May 1920 he moved to Dingwall to work as assistant to Donald Matheson, and in January the following year became Assistant Burgh Surveyor in Buckie. In October 1922 he moved to Aberdeen to become chief assistant to Clement George, with whom he remained after the merging of the practice with that of Alexander Marshall Mackenzie in May 1931 as A Marshall Mackenzie Son & George.

Findlay left to commence practice as a principal in January 1934, as County Architect of Morayshire. He was admitted LRIBA on 2 December 1935, his proposers being John Gibb Marr, Robert Leslie Rollo and Arthur Hay Livingstone Mackinnon. He was still in this post in 1956.

Findlay died on 5 October 1957 aged 61. He was survived by his wife, May Stephen Geddes, and at least one son.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 432, Wittet Drive, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivate 1957 
Item 2 of 437, Dee Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate(?)1930 or 1931 *  
Item 3 of 4County Buildings/24, High Street, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandBusinessJanuary 1934After 1950As Morayshire County Architect
Item 4 of 43, St Catherine's Place, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivate1935 *  

* 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 6David Wishart GallowayApril 1911April 1915Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6David Wishart GallowayMarch 1919May 1920Assistant 
Item 3 of 6Donald MathesonMay 1920January 1921Assistant 
Item 4 of 6Clement GeorgeOctober 1922May 1931Chief Assistant 
Item 5 of 6A Marshall Mackenzie Son & GeorgeMay 1931January 1934Chief Assistant 
Item 6 of 6Morayshire County Architect's Office (later Moray & Nairn Joint County Council)January 1934After 1935Chief ArchitectMorayshire County Architect

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Arthur Hay Livingstone Mackinnon2 December 1935for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3John Gibb Marr2 December 1935for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3Robert Leslie Rollo2 December 1935for Licentiateship

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 6c. 1860(?)Morayshire Union PoorhouseElgin MorayshireScotlandUncertain attribution
Item 2 of 61937Council headquartersElgin MorayshireScotlandAs Morayshire County Architect
Item 3 of 67 November 1952City Hall, ElginElgin MorayshireScotlandNew city hall
Item 4 of 68 March 195730 houses at New ElginElgin Moray & NairnScotlandper Builder p482 - CHECK, employed by County Architectural Dept. at Elgin?
Item 5 of 615 March 195725 HousesFochabers MorayshireScotlandp523
Item 6 of 65 April 1957Anderson's InstitutionForres MorayshireScotlandper Builder p656

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 2RIBA1956Kalendar 1956-57   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder7 November 1952  p688

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 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no4502 (combined box 18)