Association of Road Surveyors of Scotland

Association of Road Surveyors of Scotland (1884 - 1924) was a professional society in Scotland focused on infrastructure.

History
The Roads and Bridges (Scotland) Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict. c. 51) enhanced the profession of road surveyor by organising a list of statutory highways and processes of county administration. It began the move towards County-based responsibility for the roads network and bridges, assisted by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 which established county councils.

Following the 1878 act, in 1884, around forty Scottish road surveyors decided to form an association with the object of 'the encouragement and advancement of all matters connected with road management, and to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas amongst its members; to fix places of meeting, and transact such other business as may be necessary'.

The first meeting of the new Association of Road Surveyors of Scotland was held in Edinburgh on 23 July 1884 with David Patrick of Dalry appointed the first President. Initially, there were 54 members. The association met annually and voted in a new president each year. There were two vice-presidents, an honorary secretary and treasurer, and honorary auditors. Meetings involved the reading of papers and discussion. There would also be trips to see bridges, roadworks, quarrying and new equipment in operation.

In 1888 Sir William Arrol showed the association the Forth Bridge under construction. In 1919 the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer Allan Stevenson retired after thirty-five years in the role. His position was taken by Major William Chapman of Airdrie.

In 1924 the association decided to change their name to the Highway Engineers' Association of Scotland. This reflected the engineering role many undertook.

In 1931 some members of the association decided to form the Scottish County Surveyors Society. Prior to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929 most surveyors had remained as district road surveyors with the county role only taken on by some authorities, notably Midlothian. The act brought in the widespread use of the county role. In 1937 the Scottish County Surveyors Society merged with the English and Welsh County Surveyors Society which had been founded in 1885.

In 1936 the Highway Engineers' Association of Scotland decided to merge with the Institution of Municipal & County Engineers. Part of the agreement required the Institution to include the phrase 'Incorporating the Highway Engineer's Association of Scotland' for three years thereafter. In 1984 the institution itself merged with the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE).

Presidents of Road Surveyors’ Association of Scotland

 * 1884 – David Patrick, Dalry

1885 – Mr Clarke, Uddingston

1886 – William Mitchell, Dundee

1887 – William Rankin, Thornhill

1888 – John McLachlan, Dunfermline

1889 – David Laidlaw, Linlithgow

1890 – Alexander Hogg, Alford

1891 – Thomas Johnston, Hurlet

1892 – A.B Smith, Annan

1893 – William Ballantine, Falkirk

1894 – Archibald Wilson, Alexandria

1895 – Andrew Rankin, Airdrie

1896 – P.D. Alexander, Airdrie

1897 – R.M. Reid, St Ninians

1898 – R.S. Anderson, Peebles

1899 – Thomas Aitken, Cupar

1900 – W. Bell, Aberfeldy

1901 – Thomas Goodwillie, St Andrews

1902 – C.R. Manners, Inverness

1903 – Thomas Callen, Haddington

1904 – James B Roberton, Dundee

1905 – Roderick McDonald, Dalry

1906 – John Robb, Edinburgh

1907 – James Rennie, Shettleston

1908 – Robert Drummond, Paisley

1909 – Allan V. Hart, Dumfries

1910 – James Laing, Kilmarnock

1911 – Donald Ross, Kirriemuir

1912 – John Scott, Perth

1913 – James Watson, Strathaven

1915 – Peter Clarke, Dunbar

1919 – Colonel Forbes, Dunfermline

1920 – Allan Stevenson, Ayr

1921 – Major W.L. Gibson, Dunblane

1922 – George Donaldson, Kirkcaldy

1923 – George Wylie, Blairgowrie

Presidents of Highway Engineer’s Association of Scotland

 * 1924 – John Kirkland, Kirknewton

1925 – Roderick McDonald, Kilwinning

1926 – George Calvert, Haddington

1927 – Major Malcolm Heddie, Dunoon

1928 – M.B. McBeth

1929 – Hugh MacDiarmid, Dunfermline

1930 - William Hendry, Bridge of Weir

1931 – George S Barry, Ayr

1932 – John Schoolar, Stirling

1933 – William Kirkland, Crieff

1934 – T.A. Gourlay, Duns

1935 – William MacDonald, Oban