Scotsman Obituaries: George Massie, chartered architect, town planner and booster of Scottish businesses

After schooling in his hometown of Elgin, George studied at Scott Sutherland School of Architecture in Aberdeen, where he took a one-year sabbatical from his course to serve as the President of the Students’ Union.

This combining of roles became a theme of George’s working life as he took a keen interest in the business community of Aberdeen, as an active member of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (now Prosper) and the Institute of Directors, and a life member and former committee member of the North-East Scotland Preservation Trust.

A member of Aberdeen Harbour Board for six years, George was also a Burgess of Aberdeen.

George began his career in local government in the development control department of Aberdeen City Council, before moving to private practice with Jenkins & Marr and then the Archial Group.

His extensive knowledge of large-scale, complex development projects and master planning made him an ideal expert witness and he appeared at many public inquiries around town planning, conservation and historic buildings.

In 2017 George was made a Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

Outside work George played rugby for Aberdeenshire and was an enthusiastic runner. He loved cooking and fine wine and enjoyed socialising at Cults, the 18th-century home he owned for more than 40 years in Tomintoul, fittingly for George, itself a planned village.

George was the proud father of John Paul, Peter, Christopher, Anna and Luke; grandfather of Charlotte, Alex and Leo and brother of John and the late James.

Obituaries

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