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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 103, Pitkerro Road, Dundee, Scotland | Private | c. 1954 | | | | 38, Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1962 | | | | 19, Woodside Place, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1964 | After 1979 | Boys Jarvis Partnership in 1979 | | San Makessan, Gartocharn, Dunbartonshire, Scotland | Private | Before 1970 | 2000 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | Stuart Lothian Barclay | 4 February 1970 | For Fellowship |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | p12, p169 Vale of Leven Hospital | | RIBA | 1954 | RIBA Kalendar 1953-54 | | | | | RIBA | 1970 | RIBA Directory 1970 | | | | | Willis, Peter | 1977 | New architecture in Scotland | | | p15, p17 Refuse Incineration Plant, Linwood |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIAS, Rutland Square | Records of membership | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no15810 (Combined Box 167); F no6944 (Combined Box 167) |
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