Douglas Haig Bamber, one of the pivotal figures in architectural practice in Scotland in the fifties and sixties, has died in Auchterarder at the age of 79.
Originally from Lancashire, Maj Douglas Bamber joined the Blackpool practice of Fairbrother, Hall & Hedges after distinguished war service with the Royal Engineers, particularly in India. He set up a branch of the practice in 1949 in Castle Street, Edinburgh, and subsequently, in 1957, at the city's 27 Rutland Square, to undertake the work for Ferranti Limited and other clients.
He was joined in the partnership at that time by David Hall, FRIAS, and the practice became independent shortly after known as Bamber & Hall, and subsequently Bamber Hall Partnership in the early sixties, when J R Laidlaw, of Eric Willox, and David Penman joined as partners.
Responsible for virtually all the Ferranti developments in Scotland, the practice designed other industrial buildings, many fire stations, and much housing in the Lothians and hospital buildings in Edinburgh and Fife. A major contribution was also made to the school and technical college building programme throughout the East of Scotland - a connection with education which continues to this day in the practice's work with universities and colleges.
Over the period from its establishment in 1949 until his retirement in 1975, the practice flourished, becoming in the sixties one of the largest and most prolific in the country, thanks in large part to Bamber's energy and enthusiasm which he communicated to partners and staff alike.
Expansion in the sixties saw a move to an out-of-town base at Liberton, a bold decision at that time. The recession of the late sixties saw the practice diminish in size, amalgamating in the early seventies with Charles Gray and Partners.
Bamber retired in 1975. Today the practice continues at Liberton. He is survived by his wife, Jose, two sons, a daughter, and grandchildren.
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