The Herald Thursday March 4, 2004

Archie McArthur

ARCHIE McArthur, one of Scotland's best-known televi­sion directors, has died, aged 69.

A cultivated and courteous man, McArthur was born in Cowdenbeath. An interest in design took him to Glasgow School of Art. After gaining his Diploma in Design he was awarded a travelling scholarship to France and Italy. This was fol­lowed by two years national ser­vice as a gunner with the Royal Artillery in Hong Kong.
Demobbed, he spent a year teaching at Glasgow School of Art, under the direction of Percy Bliss, and two years working as a colour consultant for ICI, where he designed colour schemes for schools, hospitals, town halls and factories.

His television career began in 1962, when he was invited to join the design team responsible for studio sets and graphics at Scottish Television. ITV in Scot­land was in its infancy then and making programmes was fun. Although by nature a serious­minded fellow, McArthur soon found his feet in a joyous free­
wheeling environment hilari­ously portrayed by John Byrne in his stage play, Normal Ser­vice, a warts-and-all description of the time the artist and play­wright spent working as a designer at STV.

McArthur's transition from designer's desk to director's chair was unusual, but he made the change with characteristic determination. Over nearly two decades he worked in enter­tainment, sport and documen­taries. His programmes were meticulously crafted.
On his retirement he was elected chairman of the newly - formed Scottish Television Pen­sion Association, serving 10 years in the post. He is survived by his wife Margaret, whom he met at Glasgow School of Art and married in 1961, his son, Neil and four grandchildren.

Archie McArthur, designer and television director; born October 23,1934, died February 16, 2004.

RUSSELL GALBRAITH