Jocelyn Frere Adburgham

Jocelyn Frere Adburgham (; 24 May 1900 – 23 January 1979) was a British architect and town planner, and the first woman admitted to professional membership of what is now the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Early life and education Adburgham was born Jocelyn Abram on 5 May 1900 at Sylvans, Peaslake, Surrey, the youngest of three children of Edward William Abram (1869–1929) and his wife, Lucy (; 1865–1942). In 1936, her mother changed the family name by deed poll to Adburgham.

From 1920 to 1922 Adburgham studied at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London, where she took classes in drawing, design and structural mechanics, as well as architectural history. In 1932, she sought to extend her qualifications to architecture, as she applied to become a licentiate member (a member who could demonstrate competence without having passed formal examinations) of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Adburgham was "much admired by her colleagues as a model of the independent professional woman". intended to promote the idea of modern, well-designed homes. She designed its headquarters in premises at 13 Suffolk Street, London, and eventually, in 1974, became its vice-president. As an independent architect she designed a block of flats for the Fulham House Improvement Society: Brightwells, Clancarty Road, Fulham.

Her scheme for a gymnasium (1938) at Nonington College of Physical Education in Kent was said to be the largest timber-frame building in England and used modular components, something in which she retained strong interest in her later, post-war work.

Later career After World War II, Adburgham continued to work as an architect-planner, both in Davidge's practice (in which she became a partner) and independently. For example, she was recorded in 1959 as being the architect in charge of the re-erection of the historic Jolesfield Windmill in Sussex.

She was a member of the Garden Cities and Town Association Council (now the Town and Country Planning Association) for many years. She is frequently mentioned in the Association's journal in her capacity as a member of the Education and Membership Committees. She was actively involved in teaching and promoting the principles of garden cities and new towns. In 1967 in she formed part of a distinguished panel of planners, politicians, architects and sociologists for a one-day "Teach-In" in Harlow. The aim was to chart the success of the first generation of new towns and identify lessons for future towns being planned. Professionals along with residents of new towns examined amenities, recreational facilities, transportation, social planning and the progress of democratic control.

She also became a fellow of the Institute of Landscape Architects in 1958 She continued to work on county plans, was often called as an expert witness to planning tribunals and committees, and continued to write articles on planning subjects.

Death Adburgham died in Northampton of cardiac failure and atherosclerosis on 23 January 1979.