Obituary: James Douglas, chartered building surveyor, lecturer and author

Born: September 1952, in Edinburgh. Died: 29 December, 2012, in Edinburgh, aged 60.

James Douglas, who died on 29 December, 2012, at the age of 60, was the youngest of a family of seven. He was educated at Portobello High School, and left to become an apprentice joiner. His talents soon shone through and he was promoted to become an assistant clerk of work.

He went to Telford College, then on to Heriot-Watt University and became a lecturer in building surveying at the end of 2009. His main teaching topics were building pathology inspection and refurbishment.

James Douglas was a chartered building surveyor and had extensive experience in maintenance, adaptation and refurbishment. He was a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and member of the editorial board of the Structural Survey journal. He was also a visiting lecturer in technology at the College of 
Estate Management on its external degree in Building Surveying as well as its graduate development programme.

He also wrote several books concerned with surveying building adaptation and repair.

James was Master for Portobellow Masonic Lodge 226 and was very higly thought of by his students, colleagues and friends.

Due to the onset of multiple system atrophy, he retired early.

He is survived by his wife Gloria, and children Errol and Estelle. He will be sadly missed.