Basic Biographical Details

Name: Allan Don Smith
Designation:  
Born: 1 November 1922
Died: 10 January 2008
Bio Notes: Allan Don Smith was born on 1 November 1922 in Paisley, the son of Adam Smith, engine fitter, and his wife Jessie Stevenson or Barclay. He was educated at Ferguslie Primary and Camphill Secondary Schools. He was articled to Charles Davidson & Son while studying part-time at Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Technical College. He served with the Royal Navy during World War II, and having trained as a radio operator, joined HMS Zetland at Greenock. The Zetland was employed on Atlantic convoy duties and in the Mediterranean and took part in the defence of Malta and the landings in North Africa. On his return he completed the Certificate Course at Glasgow School of Art in 1946 and passed the Final RIBA exam in 1953.

He joined the architect's department of J & Coats, the multi-national threadmakers as a staff architect, and remained with the company for thirty-eight years. From 1978-82 he was the Chief Architect. Work for Coats took him to Europe, the Far East, India and South America. His work involved a wide range of buildings: industrial, offices, canteens, private houses, shops and so on. He also refubished the Coats headquarters in St Vincent Street in Glasgow. His work for Coats was varied and even included designing an eel farm at Hunterston Power Station, utilising waste heat from station, when Coats briefly diversified into the continental eel market.

Smith was a good raconteur and his travels provided a wealth of anecdotes. He was a man of devout Christian faith and a member of St James Church in Paisley and later the Church of the Good Shepherd in Cardonald. He was a pioneer of the Moral Re-Armament Movement in Scotland and in the postwar years worked closely with other senior members of Glasgow firms to promote the copncept of 'team-work in industry'. Moore recently he was actively involved in campaigns for social justice such as 'Make Poverty History' and the effort to avert global warming.

Smith died in the Royal Alexandra Hospital Paisley on 10 January 2008, survived by his wife Moira Stevenson MacLeod, his son and his granddaughters. His obituarist described him as a 'convivial individual with a levely interest in current affairs who made friends whereever he travelled'.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 291, Bathgo Avenue, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate 2008 
Item 2 of 246, Well Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1950 *  

* 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 3C Davidson & SonEarly 1940s Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3J & P Coats Architect's Departmentc. 19501978Architect 
Item 3 of 3J & P Coats Architect's Department19781982Chief Architect 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Glasgow Herald18 February 2008  Obituary by Archie Mackenzie
Item 2 of 2RIAS Chartered Architect2009Winter  

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership