Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Philip Boys
Designation:  
Born: 23 August 1928
Died: 30 December 2000
Bio Notes: John Philip Boys was born on 23 August 1928, the son of Stephen Boys, minister, and his wife, Constance Rhoda Towns. In November 1948 he commenced part-time study at Glasgow School of Art continuing until January 1950. During this period the other half of his time was spent in the office of Keppie Henderson & Gleave. In January 1950 he began the full-time course at the School of Architecture, Dundee College of Art. In the summer vacation of 1951 he worked in the office of Ian Burke in Dundee. The following summer, 1952, he spent a 4-week period in Scandinavia on a study tour. He sat the final exams 1953 and was awarded his diploma in June of that year. He then took a post as assistant to Thomas Lindsay Gray where he mainly worked on private housing and alteration work. He was elected ARIBA on 2 March 1954, proposed by Andrew Graham Henderson, John Needham and Thomas Hill Thoms. John Needham remarked in his Nomination Paper that he was of an 'exceptionally high standard'.

He joined the Glasgow-based practice of Lothian Barclay Jarvis in 1961 at which point the practice title became Lothian Barclay Jarvis & Boys. He was elected ARIAS the following year. Around 1970 on the retirement of Lothian Barclay the practice title became The Boys Jarvis Partnership and a second office opened at 23 High Street, Rothesay, Bute. He was elected FRIBA on 4 February 1970, his proposers being Jack Coia, Ninian Johnston and Archibald Doak. During this period he was in charge of a wide range of large projects as well as various smaller jobs including offices, shops, restaurants, and private housing. In 1987 the practice was dissolved, one half becoming John Boys Architects.

Boys never compromised his principles and would turn down commissions if he thoguht they were inappropriate. His early work on schools was particularly good and latterly his domestic architecture in the west of Scotland and housing association work around Glasgow and on Bute are of high quality. He received ten architectural awards between 1974 and 1990.

Boys served on the Council of the Glasgow Institute of Architects, and on the Council of the RIAS and sat on the RIAS Investigation Committee. He was a founder member of the Glasgow Society and a case worker for the Architectural Heritage Society, as well as a Fine Art Commissioner.

Outwith his professional life, Boys was a fine artist though few people knew this. He was also a keen yachtsman and enjoyed both racing and cruising.

Boys retired in 1993 and the practice was taken over by James Cuthbertson. He died on 30 December 2000 at the Vale of Leven Hospital after a long illness. He was divorced (his former wife was Christine Bridget Jensen, a school teacher) but he was survived by his three children and grandchildren.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4103, Pitkerro Road, Dundee, ScotlandPrivatec. 1954  
Item 2 of 438, Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1962  
Item 3 of 419, Woodside Place, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1964After 1979Boys Jarvis Partnership in 1979
Item 4 of 4San Makessan, Gartocharn, Dunbartonshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 19702000 

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 4Keppie Henderson & J L Gleave19481950(?) 
Item 2 of 4Lothian Barclay Jarvis & Boys1961 Partner 
Item 3 of 4The Boys Jarvis Partnershipc. 1970 Partner 
Item 4 of 4John Boys Architects1987 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Jack Antonio Coia4 February 1970For Fellowship
Item 2 of 6Archibald Macintosh Doak4 February 1970For Fellowship
Item 3 of 6Andrew Graham Henderson2 March 1954For Associateship
Item 4 of 6Ninian Rutherford Jamieson Johnston4 February 1970For Fellowship
Item 5 of 6John Needham2 March 1954For Associateship
Item 6 of 6Thomas Hill Thoms2 March 1954For Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Stuart Lothian Barclay4 February 1970For 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 44 Refuse Incineration PlantLinwood RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 2 of 441953Lightburn Secondary SchoolLightburn GlasgowScotlandAs architectural assistant with Keppie Henderson & Gleave
Item 3 of 44After 1953Fleurs Avenue School  GlasgowScotlandAs job architect with Keppie Henderson & Gleave
Item 4 of 44After 1953Vale of Leven HospitalAlexandria DunbartonshireScotlandAs architectural assistant with Keppie Henderson.
Item 5 of 441963Isle of Jura Distillery Isle of JuraArgyllScotland 
Item 6 of 441963Sacred Heart SchoolBridgeton GlasgowScotlandPartner in charge
Item 7 of 441965Holy Family SchoolKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 8 of 441966Blending & Bottling Plant for for Clan Munro Whisky LtdCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 9 of 441966Glenallachie DistilleryAberlour BanffshireScotland 
Item 10 of 441966Head office for Hugh Leggat LtdBarrhead RenfrewshireScotlandPartner in charge
Item 11 of 441966SSEB officesWindyhill, Bearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 12 of 441966University of Glasgow, veterinary field stationClydebank DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 13 of 441967Lenzie Moss SchoolKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotlandPartner in charge
Item 14 of 441968Abronhill Primary School (No 2)Cumbernauld LanarkshireScotlandin progress 1970. Partner in charge.
Item 15 of 441968Albert Primary SchoolSpringburn GlasgowScotlandin progress 1970. Partner in charge
Item 16 of 441968Dawsholm Refuse Disposal PlantMaryhill GlasgowScotlandin progress 1970. Partner in charge
Item 17 of 441968Middleton Municipal incineratorMiddleton ManchesterEnglandPartner in charge
Item 18 of 441968ShambalaGourock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 19 of 441969Duck Bay Hotel , Restaurant and MarinaLoch Lomond DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 20 of 441973St Ronan's Primary SchoolBonhill DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 21 of 441975Glenallachie DistilleryAberlour BanffshireScotlandAdditions
Item 22 of 44Before 1975Crossroads Youth & Community CentreGorbals GlasgowScotland 
Item 23 of 44Before 1975Culzean Castle  AyrshireScotlandStone restoration
Item 24 of 44Before 1975Garage Amenities BlockBarrhead RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 25 of 44Before 1975Hotel & MarinaLoch Lomond DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 26 of 44Before 1975HousingStrachur ArgyllScotland 
Item 27 of 44Before 1975HousingRhu DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 28 of 44Before 1975Kilns and storage buildings for J & A Stewart, timber merchants  GlasgowScotlandFurther work - described in source as 'industrial complexes'
Item 29 of 44Before 1975Offices for OffshoreLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 30 of 441977Little CarbethKillearn StirlingshireScotland 
Item 31 of 441979Armadale CastleArdvasarSkyeInverness-shireScotlandAdditions on conversion to restaurant.
Item 32 of 44Late 1970sOffices for Motherwell Bridge and Engineering CompanyLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 33 of 44Before 1981Industrial complexes for Mallinson Denny Scotland Ltd   Scotland 
Item 34 of 44Before 1981Inver restaurant  ArgyllScotland 
Item 35 of 44Before 1981Offices, 57-61 St Vincent Street  GlasgowScotlandModernisation
Item 36 of 44Before 1981Pharmacy for the Greater Glasgow Health Board  GlasgowScotland 
Item 37 of 44Before 1981Private housingUdny AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 38 of 44Before 1981Sheltered housingKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 39 of 44Before 1981St Andrews-by-the-Green  GlasgowScotlandRestoration for the Scottish Episcopal Church and the SDA
Item 40 of 4419822-8 Columshill Place and 14-32 Columshill StreetRothesay ButeScotlandRestoration and repair. Partner in charge.
Item 41 of 441986Offices, West Campbell Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 42 of 441987Fountain Quay sheltered housingKirn ArgyllScotland 
Item 43 of 441990Pottery studio and tearoomDrymen StirlingshireScotlandExtension at rear to form tearoom.
Item 44 of 44Early 1990sCottages, KilmorichCairndow ArgyllScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp12, p169 Vale of Leven Hospital
Item 2 of 4RIBA1954RIBA Kalendar 1953-54   
Item 3 of 4RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 4 of 4Willis, Peter1977New architecture in Scotland  p15, p17 Refuse Incineration Plant, Linwood

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 no15810 (Combined Box 167); F no6944 (Combined Box 167)