Basic Biographical Details

Name: Richard Houston Dewar
Designation:  
Born: 13 January 1921
Died: 4 April 2014
Bio Notes: Richard Houston Dewar was born on 13 January 1921 in Ardler Village, Dundee, the son of William Dewar, joiner and millwright, and his wife Margaret Wilson whom he had married on Christmas Day of 1908 in Forfar. The young Dewar was articled to Findlay Stewart & Robbie of 33 Albert Square from September 1935 to May 1940, studying at Dundee College of Art. He served in the armed forces during the Second World War, after which, in September 1946, he took the full-time diploma course at Dundee School of Art, being admitted a student member of the RIBA in 1948. Upon graduating in June 1952 he was appointed assistant to William Mollison Wilson of 61 Meadowside. He was still in that office when he was admitted ARIBA on 3 October 1953, his proposers being John Needham, Stephen Welsh and W M Wilson.

He was promoted to senior assistant in 1954 and to associate in 1956, and was taken into partnership in 1960, the practice name becoming W M Wilson & Partners the following year. He was elected ARIAS in 1960. He was elected FRIBA on 5 June 1968, proposed by Thomas Hill Thoms, Arthur F S Wright, and W Sinclair Gauldie, who described him as a "personal friend for 28 years". He remained with Wilson at least until 1980.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Ferryton Cottage, Forfar, Angus, ScotlandPrivate1950 *c. 1960 
Item 2 of 364, Lour Road, Forfar, Angus, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1960 *After 1994 
Item 3 of 3Castle Chambers/26, Castle Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness1970sAfter 1986Address given in 1970 is 22 Castle Street

* 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 6Findlay Stewart & RobbieSeptember 1935May 1940Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6William Mollison WilsonJune 19521954Assistant 
Item 3 of 6William Mollison Wilson19541956Senior Assistant 
Item 4 of 6William Mollison Wilson19561960Associate 
Item 5 of 6William Mollison Wilson19601961Partner 
Item 6 of 6W M Wilson & Partners1961After 1980Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6William Sinclair Gauldie5 June 1968for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6John Needham3 October 1953for Associateship
Item 3 of 6Thomas Hill Thoms5 June 1968for Fellowship
Item 4 of 6Stephen Welsh3 October 1953for Associateship
Item 5 of 6William Mollison Wilson3 October 1953for Associateship
Item 6 of 6Arthur Francis Stevenson Wright5 June 1968for 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 171963Training Centre for guide dogs for the blind Fofar AngusScotland 
Item 2 of 171964Factory for Yorkshire Imperial Metals  DundeeScotland 
Item 3 of 171965Bowling StadiumArbroath AngusScotland 
Item 4 of 171967Scottish Horticultural Research InstituteInvergowrie AngusScotlandRedevelopment - including farm buildings, glasshouses, laboratories and library.
Item 5 of 171968Factory for Giddings & Lewis-FraserArbroath AngusScotlandMachine shop, electronics factory
Item 6 of 171968Housing for Forfar Town CouncilForfar AngusScotland 
Item 7 of 171968Perth New InfirmaryPerth PerthshireScotlandMaternity Unit
Item 8 of 171969Bakery for British Bakeries  DundeeScotland 
Item 9 of 171969Factory for Northern Tool & GearArbroath AngusScotland 
Item 10 of 171970Community Centre for Dundee Corporation  DundeeScotland 
Item 11 of 171971BP Petroleum Development Ltd offices  AberdeenScotland 
Item 12 of 171971SHRI Laboratories  DundeeScotland 
Item 13 of 171974Office, laboratory and communications building for BP   AberdeenScotland 
Item 14 of 171976Maternity HospitalPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 15 of 171977Fire training centreMontrose AngusScotland 
Item 16 of 171977Offshore Training Centre   Scotland 
Item 17 of 17c. 1979Factory for Giddings & Lewis-FraserArbroath AngusScotlandOffices

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 7Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp117
Item 2 of 7RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 7RIBA1954RIBA Kalendar 1953-54   
Item 4 of 7RIBA1961Kalendar 1960-61   
Item 5 of 7RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 6 of 7RIBA1979Directory of members   
Item 7 of 7RIBA1987RIBA Directory of Members 1987   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no15129 (stored under F5996); F no5996 (combined box 112)