I was recently hospitalised- not with Covid-19 . Now sitting at home slowly recovering I am putting pen to paper to trace my life back from when I went to the Royal Technical College.
I was among the first batch of students who joined the Royal Technical College of East Africa in May 1956. I enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture and was there until term ending 1959 when I started working for Vamos and Partners Architects.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY of AMRIT MEDIRATTA
I was recently hospitalised- not with Covid-19 . Now sitting at home slowly recovering I am putting pen to paper to trace my life back from when I went to the Royal Technical College.
I was among the first batch of students who joined the Royal Technical College of East Africa in May 1956. I enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture and was there until term ending 1959 when I started working for Vamos and Partners Architects.
One year later in October 1960, I flew out with a fellow colleague Eddie Sequeira to London to continue my architectural studies there. Most of us who had arrived in London around that time found ‘digs ‘ around East Africa House ,which has since been sold off by the independent Nations of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
I found a room to share with another architectural student from the RTC and upon advice from colleagues I went along to the RIBA offices and got a list of architects willing to employ apprentices.
Within a week I got into employment with George True Dunn who were particularly well known for their expertise in designing hospitals.
I started evening classes along with Eddie Sequeira in the then Hammersmith College of Art and Building, which later amalgamated into Thames Polytechnic and is now part of Westminster University.
I had a year’s spell with Chamberlin Powell and Bonn who were the Architects of the famous Barbican development; and almost 3 years with Arthur Swift and Partners who were the early pioneers of undercover shopping centres with car parking in the United Kingdom.
I passed my intermediate examination at the RIBA and continued with my evening studies at Thames Polytechnic where I obtained a Diploma in Architecture and also passed the RIBA Final Examination. After 2 years of Practical Experience I passed the Part 111 Professional Practice Examination at Thames Polytechnic and was admitted into Corporate Membership of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
In 1972 I joined Fitzroy Robinson and Partners who were then the largest multi-disciplinary Practice in Europe. Among its many projects just getting under way was a large Computer Centre / Bullion Centre for an International Bank. We set up a Site Office and I was appointed to project manage the Development with 30 architects, assistants and secretarial staff for almost 6 years to completion.
While still at Fitzroy’s I developed a particular interest in resolving disputes between contractors and employers, and enrolled for evening classes at the Institute of Arbitrators followed by a residential course at Liverpool University. As part of my training I was required to serve pupillage with an Arbitrator and was put in contact with a Douglas McClure-Fisher. We got on very well, because Douglas had spent 13 years in Kenya as a Chartered Surveyor.
In 1972 I was made a Fellow of the Faculty of Building and in September 1973 a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Upon completion of my last Project with Fitzroy Robinson and Partners, I resigned and set up in Practice on my own account as Mediratta Associates Chartered Architects, Planning and Construction Contracts Consultants on 1 January 1980.
In the early days of my Practice, quite a lot of my time was taken up advising or representing employers or contractors in disputes under building contracts. In my architectural Practice we carried out a wide range of design and construction works including , among others, multiple residential units , conversion and refurbishment of offices and flats , light and heavy industrial units and a large Gurdwara and Community Centre Complex for the Sikh Community, which was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2004 when I had the opportunity to speak with her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburg and one year later Prince Charles accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwell made a visit and again as the architect for the Project both of them spoke with me.
In the course of designing the Gurdwara I, accompanied by my wife, flew out on a pre-arranged visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar India and found my conducted tour very inspirational.
While designing the Gurdwara I was looking for some additional help and managed to make contact with a fellow colleague Edwin Noronha from our time in Nairobi and also when we shared a room in a house facing East Africa House. Edwin worked with me for almost 3 years. He used to enjoy site visits because some of the trustees of the Temple had come from Kenya and he loved speaking to them in Swahili.
I closed my Practice in 2007 after 27 years because I had so much else going on in my life that I could not keep up with any more architectural work. My autobiography would be incomplete if I fail to mention at least in brief, some of the many activities I have been involved in. But firstly, on a personal note : in 1966 I met Jo ( Josephine ) ,a Londoner and we got married in 1968. We have 2 sons ,Sunil ( Neil ) who graduated in dentistry from Leeds University and is married to Lisa, a Yorkshire girl, and a dental nurse. They have one 12 years old daughter, Isobella. Our second son Nik (Nikesh ) graduated from Sheffield Hallam University and is a marketing analyst. He met his wife Jane at the University and she now works for a university in Hertfordshire. They have a 14 years old son Lewis , and a 12 years old daughter Ella.
In 1999 I was elected a Conservative Councillor. I resigned in May 2014 after 15 years during which time I was Leader of the Conservative Group for 3 years at our District Council and had also served as a Civic Mayor when I was twice able to go with my wife to Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea.
In 2001 I was invited by the Central Government to join the UK Delegation to the Congress of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg France which promotes cooperation between European States. I remained its member until November 2014 during which time I served for 4 years a Vice President of the Committee on Sustainable Development when among other matters I delivered a paper on climate change from the floor of the House ; and for 2 years a vice president of the Governance Committee. As a member of the Council of Europe I travelled for meetings to nearly every European Country and in 2004 I accompanied a team of International Observers to oversee elections for the Mayor of Belgrade and other local and regional assemblies in Serbia and Montenegro.
In 2009 I was invited by a German Environmental Aid Group Deutsche Umwelthilffe to join an Advisory Board of a 3 years project to choose a European Capital of Biodiversity. Once again this took me to various European Countries for meetings and inspections. My wife often accompanied me to these Countries.
In my long life I have been a school governor of a high school for 6 years, a member of a Valuation Tribunal for 10 years and a member of the Steering Committee of the Asian Business Association of the London Chamber of Commerce.
In 2004 I was awarded Hind Ratan ( Jewel of India ) by the NRI Welfare Society of India ‘ for outstanding services, achievements and contributions’ at a ceremony in New Delhi where I went accompanied by my wife to receive the Award. In 2005 I received Pride of India Gold Award at a ceremony in London; and in 2008 Glory of India Award from the India International Friendship Society for Outstanding Achievements and Distinguished Global Services.
Now in my retirement and until recently I have been playing 18 holes golf twice a week which I hope to start playing again as soon as I am able to. I am a Rotarian and a Freemason. I also have a lifelong ambition to write a book.
Amrit Mediratta, ATP Dipl Arch RIBA FFB FCIArb
RIBA Chartered Retired