Ninian McWhannell (1869-1930), architect and councillor.
Son of the treasurer of Glasgow School Board, McWhannell specialised in designing public buildings as a partner in the architectural firms McWhannell & Rogerson and McWhannell, Rogerson & Reid. Buildings associated with his firms include Quarrybrae School, Battlefield Primary School and the Royal Samaritan Hospital for Women, as well as the restoration of Robert Burns' House in Mauchline.
As vice-president of the Burns Federation, McWhannell was an acknowledged authority on the poet. He was also a master of the Scots dialect and in demand as an elocutionist. He was a keen sportsman who played football for Queen's Park FC, captained Pollok Golf Club and was president of Shawlands Bowling Club.
McWhannell was elected a councillor in 1925 to represent the Pollokshaws ward, which he continued to do until his resignation in 1934. He convened several committees on Glasgow Corporation, and in 1931 was appointed senior magistrate.
Reference: Mitchell Library, GC 052 BAI
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries, Information and Learning
Keywords:
architects, Battlefield Primary School, Burns Federation, councillors, elocutionists, footballers, magistrates, McWhannell & Rogerson, McWhannell, Rogerson & Reid, Pollok Golf Club, Quarrybrae School, Queen's Park FC, Royal Samaritan Hospital for Women, Shawlands Bowling Club