John Anderson, who headed the co-operative movement in North Angus and the Mearns and later across parts of Tayside, has died aged 79.
He headed North Angus Co-op, which had retail outlets in Montrose, Brechin, Laurencekirk and Inverbervie, a garage business, a bakery and a vast property portfolio.
After a merger, John became chief executive officer of North Tayside, Strathaven and Kilwinning Co-op which he ran until his retired aged 55.
Sporting leadership
John was also active in political lobbying as a member of the Co-operative Party, and a former captain of Royal Montrose Golf Club.
He was born in Prestonpans, East Lothian, the son of coal miner Jimmy and his wife Bel.
John attended Preston Lodge High School where, when he was an 18-year-old prefect, he met his future wife, 15-year-old Aileen McGregor.
When he left school in 1962 John was the first of his family to attend Edinburgh University where he studied economics, graduating in 1966.
John and Aileen married in North Berwick in 1966 and went on to have two of a family, Jennifer and Jeremy.
That year the couple moved to Loughborough where John began studying at Stanford Hall, the Co-operative College, learning the retail management and property aspects of business.
After a spell working with the Co-operative Wholesale Society in Uddingtston, an opening came up at North Angus Co-op in Brechin and John started work as deputy to Ronald Milne, head of the organisation.
Expansive business
When Ronald retired two years later, John took over and ran the vast business with retail outlets, coal deliveries and electrical repairs among other interests.
Outside work, John, who lived in Montrose, made significant contributions to the community.
He was a director of Radio Tay and served on Montrose Harbour Board and the board of Rossie School.
Civic commitment
A community councillor in Montrose, John also served as president of Montrose Rugby and Cricket Club and was a past Rotary president who won the Paul Harris award for organising an annual fundraising golf tournament.
His daughter, Jennifer, said: “My father was also the organiser of many Rotary trips to the theatre in Pitlochry, Edinburgh and Dundee as well as further afield to the likes of Strasbourg.
“When he headed the co-op he ensured that the organisation was generous in its support of many local organisations.
“He was also a season ticket holder at Heart of Midlothian and we used to travel to Edinburgh on a Saturday to see them play.”
You can read the family’s announcement here.
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