North-east trailer manufacturer Jim Gray, of Gray & Adams, 86

Anorth-east businessman who had factories as far afield as Dunfermline and Doncaster has died.

Gray & Adams founder Jim Gray Sr died peacefully in his sleep on February 10, aged 86.

Mr Gray formed Gray’s Motor Body Works in 1957, after leaving national service, as a car and body repair facility in Fraserburgh.

In 1960, Mr Gray was joined by Jim Adams and the company became Gray & Adams.

As Gray & Adams grew as a business, they diversified into bodybuilding – building flatbeds and mobile shops, before developing their first insulated bodies on rigids and trailers.

The next big step forward came in 1962, with the introduction of the Thermoking forced air refrigeration unit from America.

In 1966, the company moved to its current head office in South Road in Fraserburgh.

By the 1970s, the company was building trailers for the likes of Christian Salvesen, British Home Stores and Marks & Spencer.

In 1976, following the introduction of ATP, Mr Gray travelled across Europe to look at the best manufacturing practices and materials which would meet his vision for Gray & Adams.

“Quality” he often said “cannot be added on – it must be built in.”

Finally in 1978, after exhaustive research, Mr Gray and his team created their own 40-foot refrigerated chassis-less trailer using techniques which involved a one-piece structural panel that would be familiar to Gray & Adams’ customers today.

More factories followed, with Dunfermline in 1976, Northern Ireland in 1981 and Doncaster in 1990.

With Mr Gray at the helm, the business went from strength to strength as he had an uncanny ability to surround himself with very capable people.

Big Jim, as he was fondly known, was not just a talented and successful entrepreneur.

He was a husband, father and philanthropist, giving generously to local and national causes throughout his long life.

Above all, he remained fiercely loyal to his Fraserburgh roots.

Mr Gray had a special bond with his workers, while his own family are a huge part of the Gray & Adams success story, with multiple family members working in the business, including three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Mr Gray leaves behind two sons, James and Peter, and a daughter, Marie.

RESPECTED: Jim Gray Sr was also a philanthropist.