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Engineering firm founder John Reekie

Clydesdale Bank banking partner Jackie Campbell and private associate Sharon Farquharson congratulating Mr Reekie and his wife Elizabeth on his 100th birthday.
Clydesdale Bank banking partner Jackie Campbell and private associate Sharon Farquharson congratulating Mr Reekie and his wife Elizabeth on his 100th birthday.

Businessman John Reekie, who founded the Arbroath company Reekie Engineering, died on August 30, aged 103.

Friends and family paid tribute to Mr Reekie, who was renowned for his development of tractors and other agricultural implements, many of which are still used worldwide.

Mr Reekie was born in Angus and was raised on his parents’ farm at Glamis.

He was educated at Forfar Academy before gaining an engineering qualification from Dundee Technical College.

He then began an apprenticeship with electrical firm Crompton Parkinson.

With the outbreak of the Second World War, Mr Reekie enlisted as an officer in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and was posted to India.

After joining the Indian army he served in Burma where he became a Lieutenant Colonel and remained until the end of the war.

He returned to Angus on demobilisation and used his final pay to start Reekie Engineering with his younger brother Gavin.

Though based in Arbroath, the firm rapidly expanded, opening depots in Forfar, Laurencekirk, Inverurie and Turriff to meet the demand from farmers.

In 1948 he met tractor designer Harry Ferguson and began selling the Ferguson tractor under franchise.

In the 1950s Mr Reekie and his engineers developed a narrow tractor for use in the raspberry fields.

This design was taken on by Ferguson tractors and is still used worldwide.

After the success of Reekie Engineering, he went on to found Reekie Manufacturing, which produced a range of agricultural implements.

The most famous of these is the award winning stone and clod separator, which for many years was produced in Forfar.

Following the success of both companies, Mr Reekie retired in 1985, aged 75, passing the management of Reekie Engineering to his son, Simon.

Mr Reekie was cremated at a private family service.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and three children Charles, Simon and Amanda.

There will be a memorial gathering to celebrate his life at Auchenreoch House, Inchbare, by Brechin, on September 27 at 2.30pm.