Basic Biographical Details

Name: Douglas Haig Bamber
Designation:  
Born: 4 February 1917
Died: 17 September 1996
Bio Notes: Douglas Haig Bamber was born in Lancashire on 4 February 1917, the son of John Bamber, master draper and his wife Margaret Sarah Benson. He was articled to Fairbrother Hall & Hedges, Blackpool and Poulton-le-Fylde from 1934-38. In the latter year he moved as assistant to T P Bennett & Son and the year after, 1939, he was assistant to Nicholas & Dixon-Spain. The years 1940-1946 were spent in war service where he had a distinguished career. He joined the army initially as a Staff Officer and was later promoted to Deputy Commander with the Royal Engineers and served in India. After the cease of hostilities, he returned to as assistant architect to Fairbrother Hall & Hedges. He was elected ARIBA and ARIAS in 1950.

In 1950 he set up a branch office of Fairbrother Hall & Hedges in Castle Street in Edinburgh having been promoted to principal. In the later 1950s he was joined in partnership by David Hall. The practice became independent in the early 1960s as Bamber & Hall. Further partners were taken into partnership during the 1960s - James Laidlaw, Eric Willox and David Penman. The practice title changed to Bamber Hall & Partners about 1967. He was elected FRIAS in 1959 and FRIBA in 1962.

During the 1960s the practice flourished becoming one of the largest and most prolific in the country. This was largely due to Bamber's 'energy and enthusiasm which he communicated to partners and staff alike'. The practice moved out to Liberton in December1968. However the recession in 1969 saw the practice diminish in size and it amalgamated with Charles Gray & Partners in 1971. The practice title became BAmber Gray & Partners.

Bamber retired in 1975. He died at St Margaret’s Hospital, Auchterarder on 17 September 1996. He was survived by his wife Jose Saunders, his sons and daughter and his grandchildren.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 212, Greenhill Gardens, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate 1996 
Item 2 of 29, Guthries Court, Gleneagles, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate 1996 

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 4Fairbrother, Hall & Hedgesc. 1950(?)After 1956(?)Partner 
Item 2 of 4Bamber & HallAfter 1962 Partner 
Item 3 of 4Bamber Hall & Partnersc. 1967 Partner 
Item 4 of 4Bamber Gray & Partners1971 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3David CarrOctober 1962For Fellowship
Item 2 of 3Alexander Esmé Gordon (or Esmé Gordon)October 1962For Fellowship
Item 3 of 3John HoltOctober 1962For 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 691951Factory for Ferranti Ltd, Ferry Road  EdinburghScotlandExtensions - as principal with Fairbrother Hall & Hedges
Item 2 of 691952Factory for Ferranti Ltd, Ferry Road  EdinburghScotlandOffice extension, staff canteen, workshops
Item 3 of 691953Housing and flatsCockenzie and Port Seton East LothianScotland 
Item 4 of 691954Factory for Ferranti Ltd, Ferry Road  EdinburghScotlandResearch laboratories
Item 5 of 691955The Ship InnDalkeith MidlothianScotland 
Item 6 of 691956Factory and offices for the Simpson Label (& Stationery) Manufacturing Company  EdinburghScotland 
Item 7 of 691956Factory for Dickson and Mann, LtdArmadale West LothianScotlandNew offices
Item 8 of 691957Factory for Ferranti Ltd, Ferry Road  EdinburghScotlandNew unit
Item 9 of 691957Gracemount Secondary School  EdinburghScotlandPartner in charge
Item 10 of 691957St Cuthbert's Primary School  EdinburghScotland 
Item 11 of 691959Blackness Housing DevelopmentBlackness West LothianScotland 
Item 12 of 691959East Whitburn Housing DevelopmentWhitburn West LothianScotland 
Item 13 of 691959Ferranti Ltd, Gyroscopic Research, Manufacturing and Development UnitCrewe Toll Edinburgh, MidlothianScotland 
Item 14 of 691959Ferranti, Laboratories (Electronics, Gyroscopic, and Environmental)Crewe Toll EdinburghScotland 
Item 15 of 691959Secondary School, PortobelloPortobello Edinburgh, MidlothianScotland 
Item 16 of 691959Urban housing development, GreendykesBroxburn West LothianScotland 
Item 17 of 691960sDunfermline Cottage HospitalDunfermline FifeScotlandTwin theatres added and Gilles Maternity Wing (unclear if the theatres are in the maternity wing or quite separate). Also staff accommodation and upgrading work.
Item 18 of 691960sLibraryBroxburn West LothianScotland 
Item 19 of 691960sLongniddry Golf Clubhouse and Club Master's HouseLongniddry East LothianScotlandUpgrading
Item 20 of 691960sNorthern HospitalDunfermline FifeScotlandUpgrading work
Item 21 of 691960sUphall Primary SchoolUphall West LothianScotland 
Item 22 of 69c. 1960Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, east gates and lodge  EdinburghScotland 
Item 23 of 691961Factory for Ferranti Ltd, Ferry Road  EdinburghScotlandExtension no 3
Item 24 of 691961Ferranti , Silverknowes PremisesSilverknowes EdinburghScotlandRadar laboratories
Item 25 of 691961Gyle Pavilion  EdinburghScotland 
Item 26 of 691962Comprehensive Secondary School, West CalderWest Calder MidlothianScotland 
Item 27 of 691962Factory for Ferranti, Thornybank [Thorniebank]Dalkeith MidlothianScotland 
Item 28 of 691962Tranent Fire StationTranent East LothianScotland 
Item 29 of 691964Fire Station, McDonald Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 30 of 691964Marionville Fire Station & 3 HousesMarionville EdinburghScotland 
Item 31 of 691966Crewe Toll Fire StationCrewe Toll EdinburghScotland 
Item 32 of 691966Factory for Ferranti Ltd., DundeeDundee Industrial Estate DundeeScotlandManufacturing area & two-storey office block. Optical laboratories added at some point in 1960s.
Item 33 of 691966Ferranti , Silverknowes PremisesSilverknowes EdinburghScotland 
Item 34 of 691966Ferranti Ltd FactoryGorgie EdinburghScotland 
Item 35 of 691967Craigshill Fire StationLivingston West LothianScotland 
Item 36 of 691967Dalkeith Fire StationDalkeith MidlothianScotland 
Item 37 of 691967Holy Rood RC Secondary SchoolDuddingston Edinburgh  
Item 38 of 691967Portobello Secondary SchoolPortobello EdinburghScotland 
Item 39 of 691969St Augustines School  EdinburghScotland 
Item 40 of 69After 1969Preston Lodge Secondary SchoolPrestonpans East LothianScotland 
Item 41 of 69Late 1960sBridgeton Telephone ExchangeBridgeton GlasgowScotlandExtensions
Item 42 of 69Late 1960sFerranti Ltd North Berwick East LothianScotland 
Item 43 of 69Late 1960sFerranti Ltd offices and laboratories  AberdeenScotland 
Item 44 of 69Late 1960sGreenwell Housing DevelopmentFauldhouse West LothianScotland 
Item 45 of 69Late 1960sHostel for Scout CouncilBonaly EdinburghScotland 
Item 46 of 69Late 1960sHousing DevelopmentLinlithgowbridge West LothianScotland 
Item 47 of 69Late 1960sTelephone ExchangeCumbernauld LanarkshireScotlandExtensions
Item 48 of 691970sPhilipstoun Housing DevelopmentPhilipstoun West LothianScotland 
Item 49 of 69After 1970Steil's InstitutionTranent East LothianScotlandUpgrading and extensions
Item 50 of 691971Henderson Technical SchoolHawick RoxburghshireScotland2-storey block, Free Church Lane (?)
Item 51 of 691971Lothian Regional Council Water Department officeFairmilehead EdinburghScotland 
Item 52 of 69After 1971Offices and laboratories for SE Scotland Water Board  EdinburghScotland 
Item 53 of 69After 1971Shops and Offices for Scottish ProvidentPenicuik MidlothianScotland 
Item 54 of 691972Fife and Kinross District AsylumSpringfield, Cupar FifeScotlandWards upgraded
Item 55 of 691973Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, blood transfusion unit and laboratories  EdinburghScotland 
Item 56 of 691973West Fife Infectious Diseases HospitalDunfermline FifeScotlandWards upgraded
Item 57 of 691974Liberton Fire StationLiberton EdinburghScotland 
Item 58 of 69Before 1975Club for Miners' WelfareGilmerton EdinburghScotland 
Item 59 of 69Before 1975Supermarket for G & P Merchants  EdinburghScotland 
Item 60 of 69Before 1975Supermarket for I MckayPenicuik MidlothianScotland 
Item 61 of 691978Bellesk House for FerrantiGranton EdinburghScotland 
Item 62 of 691979Block of buildings, Calton Road and Leith Walk  EdinburghScotlandRepair
Item 63 of 69c. 1980Factory for FerrantiEllon AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 64 of 69c. 1980Ferranti Ltd offices and laboratories  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 65 of 69c. 1980Nazareth House  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 66 of 69c. 19815-43 Leith Street  EdinburghScotlandComprehensive rehabilitation and extension
Item 67 of 69c. 1981Factory & Warehouses for Regional Properties  EdinburghScotlandAlterations and refurbishment
Item 68 of 69c. 1981Playing fields and landscapingGyle EdinburghScotland 
Item 69 of 69c. 1981Queensberry House  EdinburghScotlandExtensions and alterations

References

Bibliographic References

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

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS NewsletterNovember 1996v7, no9 Death notice

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership