Basic Biographical Details

Name: Duncan Shearer Bremner
Designation:  
Born: 19 June 1933
Died:  
Bio Notes: Duncan Shearer Bremner was born on 19 June 1933. He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, and Robert Gordon’s College, Aberdeen where he began the diploma course in September 1951, spending two years part-time and four years full-time. He gained professional experience in the office of Jenkins & Marr during this period. A Houston Scholarship from the RIBA provided assistance to him. He was awarded his diploma in June 1957 and on 21 July 1958 passed the professional practice and experience exam. He was elected ARIBA on 8 December 1959, proposed by E F Davies, Andrew Graham Henderson and John MacLennan, at which time he was employed by Keppie, Henderson & Partners. H his career was interrupted by National Service which he served with the Airfield Construction Branch of the Royal Air Force. It was there that he met his future partners, John Armstrong Lane and Duncan John Richard Garnett.

From 1960-61 he worked as an assistant with Alan Reiach & Partners. However in 1960 Bremner together with John Armstrong Lane and Dennis Garnett had entered and won the competition for Dunbartonshire County offices. The practice Lane Bremner & Garnett was formed in January 1961 to carry out this project and at this point he became principal in partnership. As partner he participated in all stages of a job, negotiating with central government, local authorities and other statutory bodies, liaising with oither consultants, meeting clients, as well as working on design development and contract drawings.

From 1964 to 1967 Bremner was a visiting lecturer at Glasgow School of Art. From 1966 to 1979 he taught an undergraduate course on professional practice and building contracts at the University of Strathclyde, and from 1967 to 1977 a similar course for post-graduates.

Bremner was elected FRIAS in 1968 and FRIBA in 1970, his propsers for the latter being his partners John Lane and Dennis Garnett, and David Stuart Paterson by whom he had been brought into teaching at Glasgow School of Art.

Bremner was always active in matters relating to the profession. He served on the Council of the Glasgow Institute of Architects from 1966 to 1992 (though non-continuously), acting as chairman for three years; from 1968-1992 (non-continously) serving as member of Council and a number of Committees including Practice, Investigation and Contract, Housing Association, Finance & Services at various times and for various periods; and from 1973-1981 was a member of the Joint Standing Committee of Architects, Surveyors and Contractors in Scotland, latterly Chairman; from 1975-1980 a member of the Discipline Committee of the Architects Registration Council of the United Kingdom; from 1982-1991 a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects Professional Conduct Committee, latterly Chairman; from 1987-1992 a regionally elected member of Council of the RIBA; and from 1991-1996 a a member of the Discipline Committee of the RIBA. Bremner was also a member of the British Institute of Management and the Association of Project Managers.

After retirement in 1992 he moved to Moray and later served on the Management Committee of the Moray Housing Partnership for four years.

Aside from professional matters Bremner was a member of Rotary for 25 years in both the Kirkintilloch and Elgin Clubs becoming President in the former and serving as Secretary in the latter.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 85, Southbank Road, Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, ScotlandBusiness   
Item 2 of 8112, Union Grove, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate1959 *  
Item 3 of 843, Comely Bank Avenue, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1961 *  
Item 4 of 8125, Douglas Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19611970 
Item 5 of 869, Berkeley Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1970 *  
Item 6 of 83, Cult Road, Lenzie, Dunbartonshire, ScotlandPrivate1970 *  
Item 7 of 8118, Cowgate, Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, ScotlandBusinessc. 1970  
Item 8 of 8Birkister, South Darkland, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivate1994 *  

* 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 4Keppie Henderson & Partnersc. 1959 Assistant 
Item 2 of 4Air Ministry Works & Buildings Departmentc. 19591960 During National Service
Item 3 of 4Alan Reiach & Partners19601961Assistant 
Item 4 of 4Lane Bremner & GarnettJanuary 1961 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Edward Foulkes Davies8 December 1959For Associateship
Item 2 of 6Dennis John Richard Garnett2 December 1970For Fellowship
Item 3 of 6Andrew Graham Henderson8 December 1959For Associateship
Item 4 of 6John Armstrong Lane2 December 1970For Fellowship
Item 5 of 6John Maclennan8 December 1959For Associateship
Item 6 of 6David Stuart Paterson2 December 1970For Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1John Armstrong Lane5 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 451960Dunbartonshire County Council OfficesDumbarton DunbartonshireScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 2 of 451963House alterations for Dr Mackenzie   ScotlandAlterations
Item 3 of 451964Martins GarageKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 4 of 451965Office for CruickshankKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 5 of 451966House and entrance roadTarbet ArgyllScotland 
Item 6 of 451966House for J M GalbraithLoch Lomond DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 7 of 451967Arrochar HotelArrochar DunbartonshireScotlandPublic bar and extension/reconstruction
Item 8 of 451967Gartocharn Primary School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 9 of 451967Tennis clubKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 10 of 451968Kirkhill Primary SchoolBroxburn West LothianScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 11 of 451968Service stationTarbet ArgyllScotland 
Item 12 of 451968Tarbet HotelTarbet DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations
Item 13 of 451969St Joseph's SchoolCumbernauld LanarkshireScotland 
Item 14 of 451970Housing in Langmuir RoadBargeddie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 15 of 451970McLays garage and showroom   Scotland 
Item 16 of 451970Premises for Usher Walker Printing Inks   Scotland 
Item 17 of 45Before 1970Depots and other work for Shell and BP   ScotlandModifications and developments at depots
Item 18 of 45Before 1970Lennox CastleLennoxtown StirlingshireScotlandSupporting architectural services in respect of engineering works.
Item 19 of 45c. 1970St Joseph's RC ChurchCumbernauld LanarkshireScotlandConstruction in progess
Item 20 of 451971Bungalow extensions, Burnside AvenueKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotlandExtension
Item 21 of 451971Double garage and sauna, Victoria RoadLenzie DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 22 of 451971FactoryPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 23 of 451971Primary School, KnightsridgeLivingston West LothianScotland 
Item 24 of 451972Lennox CastleLennoxtown StirlingshireScotlandAlterations - cost £500,000
Item 25 of 451972Local Authority housingKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 26 of 451972Vale of Leven AcademyAlexandria DunbartonshireScotlandExtension - new blocks added on CLASP system
Item 27 of 451973Bishopton Health CentreBishopton RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 28 of 451973Deanburn Primary SchoolBo'ness (Borrowstouness) West LothianScotlandExtension
Item 29 of 451974Sheltered housingWest Calder MidlothianScotland 
Item 30 of 451974Sheltered housingRothesayButeButeScotland 
Item 31 of 451974Tarbet HotelTarbet DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations and extensions
Item 32 of 451975BungalowBothwell LanarkshireScotland 
Item 33 of 451975Sheltered housingGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 34 of 451976Bungalow conversion for ShawMilngavie DunbartonshireScotlandConversion
Item 35 of 451976Bungalow extension, Burnside AvenueKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotlandExtension
Item 36 of 451977Luggiebank HouseKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotlandConversion of 17th century farmhouse to printing works. Job architect.
Item 37 of 4519783 housing modernisation schemes for Strathkelvin District Council   Scotland 
Item 38 of 4519783 housing schemesQueens Cross GlasgowScotland 
Item 39 of 451979Sheltered housingPort Glasgow RenfrewshireScotlandSketch scheme
Item 40 of 451980Bungalow extensions, Burnside AvenueKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotlandFurther extension
Item 41 of 451980Health CentreGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 42 of 451980Sheltered housingPriesthill GlasgowScotlandSketch plans
Item 43 of 45Before 1981Adult training centre for Strathclyde Region   Scotland 
Item 44 of 45Before 1981Sheltered housing schemes for Bield Housing Association   Scotland 
Item 45 of 451988Refurbishment of psychiatric wards for NHS   ScotlandRefurbishment

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 2 of 2RIBA1994A Directory of RIBA Members   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder9 December 1960  'Competition Result - Council Offices, Dumbarton, for Dunbarton County Council' pp1066-1071
Item 2 of 2RIAS NewsletterMay 1994v5, no4 Note of change to retired category of the RIAS

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 Bremner: A no20417; F no7295 (Combined Box 183)