The men behind the 1963 Dewar Manuscripts publication

Bill MacLellan, the publisher who produced the 1963 volume, died aged 80 in 1996. His passing was widely lamented, not least by up-and-coming writers and artists who sometimes benefited from his unconventional business methods. Some established figures today believe he was let down in his time by a London establishment glitterati who were dismissive of the Scottish arts and literature sector for political and cultural snobbery.

The last paragraph of his obituary in the Glasgow Herald read: ‘When no other publishers knew that Scottish art and letters existed, Bill MacLellan did the best he could for them and lost his family’s little business in the process. We must wait for a thorough history of our native culture before his part in it is properly recognised.’

Charles Hepburn, who put his hand into his pocket for the 1960s volume, died aged 80 in 1971. He and business partner Herbert Ross invented the world-famous Red Hackle whisky blend after First World War service with the Black Watch and employed veteran comrades on the workforce. They used converted Rolls Royces with tongue-in-cheek livery as despatch vans in Glasgow.

Mr Hepburn used some of his fortune as a major patron of the arts providing Glasgow university with Hepburn House for its History of Art department. He was a benefactor of the College of Piping and the Scottish Rugby Union. He paid for Murrayfield to have the first underground-heated rugby ground.