The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Architect Glen Lorimer Pride
Well known architect, Glen Lorimer Pride was a proud St
Andrean.
He was born in the Auld Grey Toun on June 19 1927, went to school and university and lived and worked in the town.
He married and raised his family there and he was still living just a mile west of the St Andrews boundary at the time of his death in January.
He attended Madras College before going on to St Andrews University, where he graduated with an honours degree in natural philosophy in 1949.
He went on to study architecture at Dundee College of Art, graduating with a Diploma in Architecture in 1953, before being called up for national service.
He was commissioned in the Royal Engineers and on demobilisation, returned to St Andrews to become a partner with his father Frank Pride in the family firm of chartered architects,
Walker & Pride (established 1850), at Mercat House, Church Street.
The work of the practice was varied, ranging from major reconstruction works at the university, Madras College and St Andrews Town Hall to local authority housing throughout Fife, the design of houses for private clients, church improvements, and other public projects.
He also acted as an expert on professional conduct.
Glen married Betty Ferguson in 1956 in St Andrews at St Leonards Chapel.
Their daughter Susan was born in 1957 and Carol followed in 1960.
When he retired in 1987 he was content to leave the architectural practice in the safe hands of his partner John Thomson but was always willing to lend support or give advice.
Architecture remained a lifelong passion and Glen took on voluntary work for the Architectural Heritage
Society for Scotland when he retired, becoming secretary of the East Fife Cases Panel.
He actively campaigned for the conservation of the special architectural character of East Fife and appeared at public hearings and in the press on the society’s behalf.
His love of architecture and the Scottish language resulted in the publication of his Glossary of Scottish Building in 1975.
It was later to become the Dictionary of Scottish Building, in association with the Scottish National Dictionary Association.
This is a now a wellrespected reference book for all employed in the Scottish building industry.
The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland recognised his abundant local knowledge by inviting him to write the Kingdom of Fife Architectural Guide (1990, 2nd revised edition in 1999).
He also enjoyed poetry and Betty arranged for two books of his poetry to be published. He always kept a notebook nearby for his musings and was still adding to his poetry collection last Christmas.
Glen enjoyed sport, particularly rugby which he played for his school, university and the Army and was particularly proud of being selected for the North and Midlands District trials, and narrowly missed selection for the Scottish team.
He was later to become a past president of Madras College FP RFC.
Glen was an elder of St Leonards Parish Church for 36 years, seven as the session clerk. He served as an office-bearer of St Andrews Presbytery and as a member of the Church of Scotland.
In 2003 he was asked to write a centenary booklet for St Leonards Parish Church.
His contribution to town life included being a founder member and past chairman of the St Andrews Round Table and past president of St Andrews
Business Club. He was invited on many occasions to join other committees and organisations but preferred family life to such duties.
When Betty developed dementia, Glen cared for her devotedly for 10 years, until her death in 2015.
In his remaining years his independence was supported by Kathy Clark and latterly with the additional help, of Ann
Hunter. Their care meant that he could end his days as he wanted, at home.
He is survived by his daughters, their husbands Jack and Mike and his grandchildren Colin, Lorna, Rhona and Alice.
• The Courier ran an obituary on Mr Pride earlier this month without the family’s knowledge. We are happy to print this tribute and apologise for any distress caused.