The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Well-respected potato farmer and businessman Gordon Smillie, 69
Gordon Smillie, well-respected Perth potato farmer and owner of J and E Smillie (Growers), has died at the age of 69.
Gordon joined the family business, which was established by his father James and mother Enid Smillie in 1959, when the company was growing around 700 acres of seed potatoes in Perthshire, Angus and Kincardineshire.
In 1984 Gordon had the foresight, along with the Doig’s at Old Fargie Farm, Ron Macarthur of Haggarts at Muthill and Marcel Guindi in London, to establish Caithness Potatoes Ltd (CPL) or Caledonia Potatoes Ltd as is today.
CPL produced and marketed the varieties bred by the renowned breeder Dr Jack Dunnett. Through his work with CPL Gordon spent a production season working in Eastern Europe.
He travelled extensively all over the world – Russia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Morocco, the Canaries and Spain to name but a few.
As Gordon took over the reins of the family business he continued to expand and develop trade in the UK and even more so in the export markets.
Through J and E Smillie’s involvement in Caledonia Potatoes and their breeding program, Gordon will leave a legacy and, hopefully through his careful selection, some successful new varieties going forward.
His wife, Fiona Smillie, said: “Numerous people throughout the potato world knew Gordon to be not only a good person to do business with, but also knew him to be a trusted and respected friend.
“Gordon had numerous skills – a virtual photographic memory, generosity and the rare skill of being good at both growing and marketing potatoes.
“In addition his ability to be welcoming and respectful to all kinds of people whether a humble tattie picker, a powerful customer, or an important government official.
“He had both humility and respect for all.”
Unfortunately latterly due to ill-health Gordon became less involved in his business but it did not stop him taking a five-week trip with Fiona, travelling around New Zealand and of course stopping along the way to inspect the tattie fields down under.
Born in Bridge of Allan, he died in Ochil Care Home in Perth on December 27.
Gordon spent his formative years in Balbeggie where he attended the village primary school.
From there he went to Perth High School then on to Edinburgh University from 1969-1973, gaining a BSC Agriculture.
He is survived by his wife Fiona, his four children – Rosalind 43, Lesley 41, Ian 39 and Sandie, 24 – and grandchildren Anna, 6 and Jack, 3.