Basic Biographical Details | Name: | William ('Will') Dootson (junior) | | Designation: | | | Born: | 23 May 1904 | | Died: | 22 August 1988 | | Bio Notes: | William ('Will') Dootson Junior was born on 23 May 1904, the son of William Dootson, an Australian architect who practised in Manchester and his wife Annie Crowther. From 1926 to 1933 he studied technical subjects at Stockport College in Cumbria and also undertook an architectural history and design course up to Intermediate Standard, though he did niot sit the exam. Thereafter he taught building construction in the evenings at Stockport College.
He worked as an assistant to his father in Stockport from late 1936 until November 1938 when owing to a shortage of work in the depression he obtained a post as architectural technical assistant to Lycett & Platt Ltd of Manchester who were shopfitters and builders. Through his work there he obtained knowlegde of the practical side of store planning and design and he became a specialist in this. Dootson Junior was admitted LRIBA in 1942. His proposers were John Wilson, J Armory Teather of Sheffield and J M Middleton who was secretary of the RIAS.
At some point before 1942 he was offered and accepted the position of Staff Architect with the Saxone Shoe Company in Kilmarnock. As such as dealt with the alterations, extensions, new stores and repairs etc at the 140 branches of the shop in Great Britain and Eire. At the time of his election to the RIBA he was working on repairs, air raid shelters under the CD act and war damage claims.
He did not take over his father's practice when the latter died in 1951 but completed all his father's outstanding commissions from his practice at Duart Crescent, Prestwick, Ayrshire. Harry Dootson, perhaps another son, born 31 October 1915, died March 2003, worked for William Dootson senior.
Will Dootson junior died on 22 August 1988 at Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow. He was survived by his wife, Annie Eyre. | Private and Business Addresses| The following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | Saxone Shoe Company/113, Tichfield Street, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland | Business | Before 1942 * | | | | 4, Duart Crescent, Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland | Private/business(?) | 1951 * | 1988 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers| The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | William Dootson | 1936 | | Assistant | |
RIBARIBA Proposers| The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | J Armory Teather | 10 March 1942 | For Licentiateship | | John Wilson | 10 March 1942 | For Licentiateship |
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this : | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical References| The following periodicals contain references to this : | | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA Journal | April 1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p248 |
Archive References| The following archives hold material relating to this : | | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L no5080 (Combined Box 55) |
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