I am John Crawford Partner, I was born here in Montrose some 50 years ago and was educated at Montrose Academy Primary and Senior, having left school at the end of 5th year, my father who ran a local joiners and carpenters business advised that as I did not have the inkling towards joinery that possibly becoming a quantity surveyor would help me to assist with the business in the future. Therefore on applying and obtaining a work place with architects and surveyors Ritchie and Dick in Brechin as an apprentice quantity surveying technician it became apparent to myself after a few short months that this was not the line I wished to pursue and on speaking to the architectural partner in the firm I was given a chance to work in the then busy architectural office, this after a few weeks was to my liking and the boss at the time agreed that this was where I should stay. This I did and after qualifying as a technician went on to become their senior drawing office technician where I stayed for many years. I believe that having worked for my father in his business during the school holidays , this gave me assistance in visualising work when designing, as I can still remember in the winter sitting on the roof of a new house nailing rafters to the ridge. I still believe today that all architectural students would benefit from a time on site to aid them understanding construction and would also assist in visualising abilities when preparing working drawings. I know that most students have a year out of their 7 year study in an architectural position but that time on site if given would be of good benefit. On leaving Ritchie and Dick I became involved with a local development company who provided an architectural service but also employed all trades necessary to carry out the works. This again I believe aided to my abilities due to the fact I was organising the workmen and running the contracts as well as being involved with the preparing of plans. I left to start my own business