Obituary: Allan Pendreigh, 80

Allan Pendreigh, distinguished architect, artist and jazz musician, has died at the age of 80.

Allan was born in Dalkeith on March 22, 1932, the son of joiner and cabinet maker James Pendreigh and his wife Alice, After finishing his education at Dalkeith High School, he started his professional career training to become a design engineer in the drawing office of MacTaggart Scott in Loanhead.

Allan studied mechanical engineering for three years at Heriot-Watt College, earning a National Certificate in Building Construction. And after National Service in the Royal Engineers he obtained a post with civil engineers Mason Anderson & Partners, where he worked from 1954 until 1960.

Allan then moved on to the drawing office of Crudens of Musselburgh. While working he earned a Intermediate degree at Glasgow School of Architecture in 1963. He continued on to Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot Watt University, now as a full-time student of architecture, and graduated in 1966 with distinction. In addition he earned two awards: Distinction in Design and the City of Edinburgh Medal for Civic Design.

From 1965 until his retirement in 1992, Allan worked as an architect at the Ministry of Works which later became the Property Services Agency.

Allan’s early projects include design of the plant houses of the Royal Botanic Garden, which were opened in 1967 – a building much loved by the people of Edinburgh and with a Category A listing, which requires it to be preserved.

During his working life, Allan worked on several civic projects including the Institute of Geological Science of the University of Edinburgh, the extension of Parliament House in the early 1990s, various telephone exchanges and work for the Ministry of Defence.

Allan was also invited to teach classes in landscape construction, draughtsmanship and design at the Royal Botanic Garden. He remained there as a teacher for 30 years.

After his retirement, he was commissioned to undertake work for the National Library of Scotland, New Register House, the Property Services Agency and other private companies.

All through his life Allan loved art and music. He became a renowned artist, painting, sketching and teaching art courses, as well as displaying his work in numerous exhibitions.

Also a jazz percussionist, Allan played with several jazz groups.

His wife Morag says: “Art and music was the continuing thing for Allan, it was his passion.

“He was a family man and will be sorely missed by a lot of people, because he had so much to give.”

Allan is survived by his brother James, children Karen, Bobby and Julia and grandchildren Louise and Tom.