Glasgow Business . 43 www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


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ir Hugh Fraser had a remarkable life as a businessman and as a benefactor whose charitable Foundation giſted the magical island of Iona to the


National Trust for Scotland. His career included him being Chairman of


House of Fraser, Harrods, George Outram – the company that owned the then Glasgow Herald – and distiller Whyte and Mackay. Born on 18 September 1936, Fraser spent


his schooldays in Melrose and at Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow. He went into the family business, working closely with his father Lord Fraser of Allander. His father made him a director at the age


of 21 and gave him responsibility for the Scotish stores, in order to prepare him for running the whole empire. He was determined to move away from the


‘old department store’ image and converted the original Fraser store in Glasgow into a high-class fashion shop aimed at young, beter-off women. He began to introduce boutiques into


other stories and converted Simpson Hunters Glasgow shop into a Young World shop devoted to children’s wear. In 1965, aſter his father had a heart atack,


Fraser was appointed Deputy Chairman of House of Fraser and the following year aſter his father’s death became its Chairman and that of SUITS (Scotish Universal Investments), his father’s investment company. He was also appointed Director of Harrods, John Barker & Co and Binns. In the same year, Fraser renounced his


father’s peerage, but was unable to disclaim the baronetcy so became a Baronet. Fraser resumed his father’s policy of


acquisition in 1969, when he bought JJ Allen, the Bournemouth group of stores. He went on to acquire Guy and Smith of Grimsby in 1969; E Dingle, a group of stores in the south west of England, in 1971; and James Howell in Cardiff, in 1972. At the same time, he closed some stores,


mainly in Scotland, but he also closed Pontings, in London, in 1970. As the supermarket chains moved into


selling clothes, he pursued a policy of trading up, aiming to make the House of Fraser the best store in every large town in Britain. Between 1966 and 1973, group sales


doubled to more than £200 million, and profits doubled to over £10 million. Te Guardian chose Sir Hugh Fraser as


the Young Business Man of the Year in 1973, acknowledging his restructuring and expansion of the family business and the fresh and exciting style he brought to the stores. However, no life or career is ever plain


sailing and Sir Hugh Fraser was removed as Chairman during a tense board meeting in 1981 in a boardroom row over a takeover bid from Roland ‘Tiny’ Rowland, head of the industrial conglomerate Lonrho. Fraser eventually sold House of Fraser to


the Al Fayed brothers in 1985 for £615 million. Aſter being ousted, Fraser spent most of his


time in Scotland, seting up a chain of menswear stores of his own and he also owned a shirt factory in Belfast and a textile works in Aberdeen. He held a number of directorships and was Chairman of Dumbarton Football Club. However, it is his contribution as a


benefactor and philanthropist for which he is most remembered. He worked hard for the Hugh Fraser Foundation, which bought the island of Iona from the Duke of Argyll when he fell upon hard times. It was in 1979 when the Foundation gave


the island to the National Trust for Scotland, a deed done in memory of Sir Hugh’s father. Sir Hugh gave the Mugdock estate at


Bearsden to form the Mugdock Country Park, which is enjoyed by many families today. Among his many other enthusiasms and


causes, Sir Hugh Fraser was a big supporter of equestrian sports; his daughter Patricia was a keen horsewoman. Te Hugh Fraser Foundation contributed


towards the establishment of the Weipers Centre for Equine Welfare at the University of Glasgow. He was also a major benefactor to the Glasgow Scout Association. Sir Hugh Fraser died from cancer in 1987


aged only 50.


THE HUGH FRASER FOUNDATION: STILL GIVING


The Hugh Fraser Foundation continues to fund charitable work. It favours smaller, more focused causes rather than large highly publicised appeals. Grants are often made in successive


years in order to maintain their momentum and effectiveness.


THE GLASGOW: INSPIRING CITY AWARDS


It is fitting that Sir Hugh Fraser, who was Chairman of The (Glasgow) Herald, owned by Robert Outram, should be featured as our Chamber Champion in this issue. This year, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and The Herald are joining forces to host the Glasgow: Inspiring City Awards to honour those who, like Sir Hugh Fraser, have made an exceptional contribution to Glasgow and the wider Scottish society.


FIND OUT MORE...


Check out Glasgow Chamber’s website www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com for more details on the Glasgow: Inspiring City Awards.


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