Basic Biographical Details

Name: Thomas Rutherford
Designation:  
Born: 16 April 1920
Died: 6 July 1996
Bio Notes: Thomas Rutherford was born on 16 April 1920, the son of Henry Rutherford accountant and his wife, Elizabeth Turner. He was the nephew of Thomas Rutherford, architect, Dunfermline (b.1882). He served his articles in his uncle's office but was called up in 1940 and served with the 8th Army, 44th Royal Tank Regiment in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He married Robin Leitch in 1945. The year after he enrolled at Edinburgh College of Art where he won the third year medal for best student. After qualifying, he joined Fife County Council Architects's Department, being promoted in due course to chief assistant in charge of the schools section and of research, development and maintenance in Fife Region. Throughout his working life he was involved with school design and his last design, Lynebank School for severely disabled children won the 1980 Education School Design Award.

Rutherford was 'a very practical architect with a detailed knowledge and understanding of building construction, structures and building services', skills demonstrated in his school buildings and his own house which he designed for himself.

He died on 6 July 1996, survived by his wife Robina Leitch Japp, a retired accounting machine operator and his son Henry Roan Rutherford, also an architect in Ayrshire, his daughter Alexa, an artist and illustrator and four grandchildren.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Primrose Bank/324, Main Street, Kelty, Fife, ScotlandPrivate1946 *1959Rented property
Item 2 of 314, Montrave Avenue, Cupar, Fife, ScotlandPrivate19591967This was rented property
Item 3 of 3Tara, Millbank, Cupar, Fife, ScotlandPrivate19671996Built for himself

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 71952New High School, BuckhavenBuckhaven FifeScotlandProject architect
Item 2 of 71963Glenrothes High SchoolGlenrothes FifeScotlandAs project architect with Fife county Education Architects Department
Item 3 of 71963Madras College, Kilrymont RoadSt Andrews FifeScotlandAs chief assistant in charge of the Fife County Education Architects section.
Item 4 of 71967TaraCupar FifeScotland 
Item 5 of 71980Lynebank School for severely disabled childrenDunfermline FifeScotlandAs head of the Education Section of Fife County Architect's Department
Item 6 of 7Before 1980Buckhaven High SchoolBuckhaven FifeScotlandPhase 1
Item 7 of 7Before 1980Old and St Michael of Tarvit's ChurchCupar FifeScotlandRestoration of tower

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIAS NewsletterAugust 1996v7, no6 Death notice
Item 2 of 2RIAS NewsletterOctober 1996v7, no8 Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3Courtesy of Roan RutherfordInformation sent to Dictionary Sent July 2011
Item 2 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 3 of 3RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership