Thomson, Leslie Grahame 1896 - 1974

Leslie Grahame Thomson [also known as Leslie Grahame-Thomson from c.1937; and as Leslie Grahame MacDougall from 1953] was born on 14 August 1896. He was called up to join the Army in his last year at school and subsequently served in Egypt and Palestine with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force during World War One. Following the war he trained as an architect under Sir George Washington Browne (1853-1939) and John Begg (1866-1937) at Edinburgh College of Art and was articled to Sir Robert Lorimer (1864-1929). Having qualified as an architect he was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1927.

In 1927 he established an architectural practice at 10 St Colme Street, Edinburgh. By 1931 he had relocated his office to 16 Ainslie Place, Edinburgh which remained the address of his office until at least 1968. His private address was Inglewood, 18 Hermitage Drive, Edinburgh from 1916 to at least 1945; 2 Shore Street, St. Oban, Argyll, Scotland in 1967 and 1972; and 1972; and Dunollie Castle, Oban, Argyll, Scotland in 1973 and 1974.

In 1937 Thomson formed a partnership with Frank James Connell (1910-1992) as Leslie Grahame-Thompson & Frank James Connell [and as Leslie Grahame-Thompson & Connell]. Architectural projects by the firm included Parish Church in Fairmilehead, Edinburgh (1937); National Bank of Scotland, Head Office, Edinburgh (1937-38); The Pantiles Roadhouse in West Linton, Peebleshire, Scotland (1937-39); Becketsfield, The Square in Bowden, Roxburghshire, Scotland (1937-39); House in Killearn, Stirlingdhire, Scotland (1938); House in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland (1938); Caledonian Insurance Building in Edinburgh (1938-40); and A'Chomraich in Silverburn, Midlothian, Scotland (1939-40). The partnership was dissolved following the outbreak of World War Two.

During the war Thomson taught for a period at Edinburgh College of Art. Following the war he practised as Leslie Grahame-Thomson & Associates.

Architectural projects by Leslie Grahame Thomson as an independent (sole) architect included Reid Memorial Church in Edinburgh (c.1927); Ardnasaid, 6 Easter Belmont Road, Edinburgh (1931); and Srongarbh (Srongara) at The Loan, West Linton, Peebleshire, Scotland (1934). Projects as Leslie Grahame MacDougall included Ulva House in Ulva, Scotland (1953); and Dunstaffnage House in Connel, Scotland (1950s). Projects as Leslie Grahame Thomson included the Moncur Memorial Church in Stronsay, Orkney, Scotland (1955); and Christ Church Dunollie, near Oban, Scotland (1957).

He exhibited architectural drawings virtually every year at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh from 1927 to 1975 (the year after his death). He exhibited as Leslie Grahame Thomson until 1937; as Leslie Grahame-Thomson from 1938 to 1953; and then as Leslie Grahame Macdougall.

He was elected President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association in 1949 and President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland in 1953.

In 1949 he married Coline Helen Elizabeth MacDougall (1904-1990) and assumed the name Leslie Graham Thompson when, in 1953, his wife became the first female Chief of Clan MacDougall of Dunollie. However, he continued to practice as Leslie Grahame-Thomson & Associates until at least the late 1950s.

He died on 3 June 1974