Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Thomson Morris
Designation:  
Born: 16 July 1921
Died: June 1984
Bio Notes: Robert Thomson Morris (known as 'RTM' or 'Bob') was born on 16 July 1921, the son of Arthur Morris, railway goods clerk of Leslie, Fife and his wife Janet Stewart Hynd. He was educated at Kirkcaldy High School and studied architecture at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee. He was elected ARIBA in 1950. His career in architecture began as an architect with the Glenrothes Development Corporation at their offices in Woodside. Drawings of 3-apartment house Type 3AT/1 with his initials survive in Fife Archives.

He married Jane Imray Gray of Kirkcaldy, Fife on 24 June 1947. They had three children - June Mary who became a town planner, Stewart Arthur and Keith Imray.

From 1960 Morris worked for Fife County Council at their headquarters in Cupar. Several of his works won Civic Trust Awards or Saltire Awards. After local government re-organisation he stayed in Cupar to become part of the new North East Fife District Council where he rose to become District Architect. He retired in the late 1970s and set up as a private architect around 1979.

Outwith his work he was interested in motor cars especially grand prix racing, as well as aircraft, jazz, painting and drawing. He was the main founding member of Glenrothes Art Club, which was established in Alburne Park in 1955. He was later an enthusiastic member of Cupar Art Club.

He died in June 1984.

His obituarist remarks that he was a 'likeable, quiet and modest man who made a significant contribution to the architecture of housing in his area'.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 314, Mayfield Crescent, Leslie, Fife, ScotlandPrivate1950 *  
Item 2 of 332, Alburne Park, Glenrothes, Fife, ScotlandPrivate1955After 1960 
Item 3 of 3Ferryfield, Cupar, Fife, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1965After 1979 

* 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 2Glenrothes Development Corporation (or Glenrothes New Town Development Corporation)19501960Architect 
Item 2 of 2Fife County Architect's Department1960 Architect 

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 6 Chapel Place Redevelopment, North QueensferryNorth Queensferry FifeScotland 
Item 2 of 61951Woodside Shopping Precinct, Community Centre and HousingGlenrothes FifeScotlandAs job architect with Glenrothes Development Corporation.
Item 3 of 61960s(?)Parkdale Old People's HomeAuchterarder PerthshireScotlandAs project architect
Item 4 of 6c. 1960Old Folks Home, DunfermlineDunfermline FifeScotlandAs job architect with Fife County Council. (Since Morris did not join the Department until 1960, it is possible that he was involved as job architect with a dirfferent old people's home.
Item 5 of 61963Police Divisional Headquarters, CuparCupar FifeScotlandAs project architect with Fife County Architects' department
Item 6 of 61972Police stationDunfermline FifeScotlandAs job architect with Fife County Architect's Department

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 6RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 6RIBA1955Kalendar 1954-1955   
Item 3 of 6RIBA1960The RIBA Kalendar 1959-19601959-1960  
Item 4 of 6RIBA1965The RIBA Kalendar   
Item 5 of 6RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 6 of 6RIBA1979Directory of members   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Building7 February 1969  p6/95

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Courtesy of June Gray, Morris's daughterInformation sent through DSA website, contact's page Sent October 2009