Basic Biographical Details Name: | Charles Tocher Donaldson | Designation: | | Born: | 1933 | Died: | 1985 | Bio Notes: | Charles Tocher Donaldson RIBA Dip Arch (Aberdeen) RICA FRIAS MSIA MAAK was born in 1933, the only son of Andrew Donaldson, garage proprietor and motor hirer, Newlands Lane, Buckie, and his wife Ann Donaldson. He studied for the diploma in architecture at the Scott Sutherland School iof Architecture in Aberdeen from 1952 to 1958. He was elected ARIBA in 1959 and ARIAS in 1961.
After working in Toronto, London and Manchester, in 1961 Charles Donaldson was sent from Manchester to open an office in Edinburgh in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to secure the commission for the Leith Walk Development at the end of Princes Street. However, within a year he had obtained commissions for a large mixed development in Glasgow and redevelopment of the Glasgow Empire. With a substantial workload in the west of Scotland, a separate office was opened in Glasgow in 1962 with Albert Heasman (qv) in charge. Charles Donaldson also became involved in a scheme for the redevelopment of the Northern Co-operative premises in George Street, Aberdeen. As a result of this, an office was opened in Aberdeen in the late 1960's. Further small commissions followed including work for the National Trust for Scotland and other clients, while the oil boom of the 1970's eventually led to commissions for several office buildings in Aberdeen, and the development of the Joint Station site.
In 1966 Charles Donaldson and Albert Heasman (qv) were made full partners in the practice which then became known as the Covell Matthews Partnership. In 1976 the practice was split into several separate partnerships, namely Covell Matthews Scotland Covell Matthews International, and Covell Matthews Wheatley Partnership.
With offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, Covell Matthews Scotland was initially run by Charles Donaldson and Albert Heasman. In 1977, Malcolm Pottinger, Bob Olgivie, Alan Scott and Hector Morrison were admitted as new partners.
Charles Donaldson had a great love of music and painting and was also an accomplished pilot. In 1980, he took time off to pursue an interest in politics (he Conservative Parliamentary candidate in Orkney and Shetland and later Regional Council candidate in Lothian) and for a while stayed in Orkney and Shetland. A small office was opened in Lerwick, but it failed to attract a sufficient workload and was closed after about a year, Charles Donaldson returning to Edinburgh in 1982.
Donaldson was active in many fields of contemporary Scottish culture. He was Vice Chairman of the Caledonian Club, a committee member of the St Andrews Society in addition to his interests in the RIAS and EAA.
He died while on holiday in Hong Kong in 1985, aged 52 and was survived by his wife, one son and two daughters. His ashes were buried in Burnside Cemetery, Buckie. His obituarist notes that he will be remembered for his 'vision, boundless energy and his drive' as well as the 'great warmth of hisfriendship'.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 69, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1961 * | | Is this the office address of Covell Matthews? | | 17, Well Road, Buckie, Banffshire, Scotland | Private/business(?) | c. 1964 | | | | 1, Palmerston Place Lane, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business(?) | 1970 | | | | 5, Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1979 * | | Address of Covell Matthews at this date. |
* 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 | | 1961 | University of Glasgow buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1963 | University of Strathclyde, library | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Teaching accommodation and library | | 1965 | Little Boghead area housing development | Bathgate | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | 1966 | Petersburn development | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Master and zoning plans | | 1966 | Whitehill Industrial Estate | Bathgate | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | 1967 | Petersburn development | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Large area of Local Authority housing built. Shops and offices built 1970. | | 1967 | Stepps recreation centre | Stepps | | Glasgow | Scotland | Scheme drawn up | | 1969 | Haymarket House | Haymarket | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1969 | Shops for the Northern Co-operative Society | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | In charge of the Edinburgh office | | 1970 | British Telecom building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1970 | Douglas Telephone Exchange | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Rebuilding? | | 1970 | Hunterston Planning Enquiry | Hunterston | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Report prepared | | 1970 | Linfern Telephone Exchange | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1970 | University of Strathclyde, library | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension to library and exhibition hall | | c. 1970 | Offices for the British Match Corporation | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | In charge of the Edinburgh office | | 1971 | Our Lady of Good Aid RC Church | Motherwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Alterations? | | 1971 | University of Strathclyde, hostels | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1972 | Shops and offices | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1972 | Uberior House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | In charge of the Edinburgh office at this date. | | 1972 | Warehouse for Storage & Warehouse Co. Ltd | | | West Lothian | Scotland | In charge of Edinburgh office | | 1973 | Hopetoun Telephone Exchange | | | West Lothian | Scotland | In charge of edinburgh office therefore presumably in charge of this job. | | 1973 | Housing and hotel | North Queensferry | | Fife | Scotland | In charge of Edinburgh office | | 1973 | Shopping development, Princes Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1973 | University of Strathclyde, Collins Building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1974 | Blackwood's office, George Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations including removal of original decoration | | 1974 | Regional office of the Continental Illinois National Banks and Trust Co. of Chicago | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | In charge of Edinburgh office | | 1975 | Hanover Street, north section, west side | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1975 | Northern Insurance Company offices and Imperial Union Club | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Interior reconstructed | | 1975 | Office Development, Hanover Street | | | Edinburgh | | Probably partner in charge as he was in charge of the Edinburgh office | | 1975 | University of Strathclyde, University Centre | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1976 | 21 St Andrew Square | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Internal alterations to form offices for IBM. | | 1976 | Colonial Life Assurance Co | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Internal alterations to form offices for IBM. | | 1976 | R & R Clark's Printing Office | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Large office block added at rear. | | 1978 | 119 George Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Ground floor shop demolished and building restored | | 1978 | Commercial development | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1978 | Office block, Commercial Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1979 | The Mall shopping centre | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | Late 1970s | Industrial Estate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | Late 1970s | Offices for the Bank of Scotland | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | Late 1970s | Restaurant and offices for SSEB | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1980 | Offices for IBM | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Bailey, Rebecca M | 1996 | Scottish architects' papers: a source book | | Edinburgh: The Rutland Press | p143 | | RIBA | 1964 | The RIBA Kalendar 1963-64 | | | | | RIBA | 1970 | RIBA Directory 1970 | | | | | RIBA | 1979 | Directory of members | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Banffshire Advertiser | 7 January 1986 | | | | | Prospect | 1986 | no26 | | p20 Winter/Spring edition | | RIBA Journal | March 1986 | v93, no3 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Death notice |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Courtesy of Neil Darlington | Information sent via DSA website | | Biography (sent January 2010) | | RIAS, Rutland Square | Records of membership | | | | School of Architecture, Garthdee, Aberdeen, RGIT: former pupils, 1937-1970 | Galletly, James | | |
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