FAREWELL TO PROUD SON OF GLASGOW
Family joined by the great and good of business to pay respects to Sir Arnold
FAMILY, friends and employees gathered for motoring tycoon Sir Arnold Clark’s funeral yesterday.
More than 500 people, including leading Scots businessmen Sir Tom Hunter, Sir Tom Farmer and Boyd Tunnock, attended the service at Glasgow Cathedral.
Former first minister Jack McConnell and Provost Sadie Docherty were also in attendance to pay their respects to the “proud son of Glasgow”, who died on April 10 at the age of 89.
Rev Laurence Whitley, who led the service, said: “The road of his life was a long one and we look back with pride. That driving force now is still.”
Sir Arnold’s sons John and Adam gave a eulogy, describing how their father started his business by using his RAF demob money in 1965 to buy a Morris Ten Four for £70, which he restored and sold on for a profit.
He soon opened the first Arnold Clark showroom in Glasgow’s Park Road, going on to establish hire car schemes, repair centres, franchises and a car finance and insurance business over the next decades.
Sir Arnold was knighted in 2004 for services to the motor industry and last year became Britain’s first billionaire car dealer.
John said: “The iconic black and yellow rear window sticker has become part of the Scottish cultural landscape.
“If you put all the cars he serviced end to end, they would stretch from Inverness to Paris – and sometimes driving the A9 it looks like somebody is trying to do exactly that.”
Adam said his father enjoyed boats almost as much as cars and was “his most relaxed” at the helm of a yacht and with his beloved wife Lady Philomena Clark.
He added: “He knew all his employees by name and if you worked for Arnold Clark, you were one of the family.
“We would like to thank all customers and his exceptionally loyal staff, both past and present. Without their hard work, dad would not have achieved so much.
“All dad’s children were honoured and privileged to have him as a father. It’s safe to say that he will always be with us through the business that he built up from nothing.”
A private family burial was held in Killearn, Stirlingshire, after the service.