Herbert Archbold Brechin

Sir Herbert Archbold Brechin KBE FRSE FRICS DLit (1903 – 1979) was a British politician and served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1966 to 1969. He was founder and chairman of the firm ‘’’Brechin & Co’’’. He successfully campaigned with Sir John Inch to bring the Commonwealth Games to Edinburgh in 1970 which also involved the construction of the Commonwealth Pool and Meadowbank Stadium.^[1]

Life

He was born in Edinburgh on 3 November 1903, the son of David Brechin (d.1949), a civil servant, and Katharine Mary O’Brien.^[2]

He was educated at James Gillespies School in Edinburgh and then attended Heriot-Watt University from 1919 where he trained as a surveyor. In 1931 he founded the company ’’H.A.Brechin & Co’’. In 1934 he married Jane Richmond Cameron.

In 1969 he was created a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh^[3] In the 1960s he lived at ‘’The Garth’’ 3 Castlelaw Road in the Colinton area of Edinburgh.^[4]

He was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1971 for his services to the city of Edinburgh with particular reference to the Commonwealth Games.^[5]

Positions Held and Honours

• Doctor of Letters from Heriot-Watt University 1967.^[6]
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire 1968^[7]
• Deputy Lieutenant of Edinburgh 1970
• Chairman of Heriot-Watt University Court 1972-79

Artistic Recognition

Brechin was painted wearing the ceremonial robes of the Lord Provost by Henry Raeburn Dobson in 1967.

References