James Paterson, founder of major Scottish joinery business, aged 79

James Paterson, who started a business in his garage in Fife and built it up into a major Scottish manufacturing joinery, has died aged 79.

He started Redwells Joinery from home in 1988 and eventually expanded to Southfield Industrial Estate in Glenrothes.

The firm, which now employs around 10, produces bespoke products such as doors, windows and staircases for major housebuilders across Scotland.

Outside work, James was a huge supporter of the Shed 47 Railway Club at Lathalmond, where he restored carriages and built platforms and equipment.

He was born at Garry Park, Glencraig, to Helen and William Paterson.

James was educated at Crosshill Primary School and Beath High School before beginning an apprenticeship as a wood machinist at DH Ferguson in Kirkcaldy.

After he had served his time he joined Thomas Mitchell timber fabricators in Thornton, where he rose to became foreman.

James had met his future wife, Elizabeth Melville, at a birthday party in 1962 and they married at Loch Craig Church in 1964.

They went on to have two children – Linda in 1966 and Sandra in 1968.

Married life began in a flat in Glenrothes, before a move to Ballingry and eventually, James built a family home in Kinglassie in 1975 on land bought from the church.

James left Thomas Mitchell to work elsewhere in 1986 and two years later, set up in business in his garage in Kinglassie with one member of staff, Raymond Lawrie.

Within six months it became clear that larger premises were needed so Redwells Joinery rented a unit at Whitehill industrial estate in Glenrothes.

In the 1990s, even larger premises were required, the move to Southfield followed and one of Jim’s daughters, Sandra, joined the firm. Elizabeth works in the wages department at Redwells.

Much of the firm’s business is supplying housebuilders with French doors, door sets and exterior doors but James also carried out intricate woodturning at home.

Shed 47 paid tribute to James. “Joiner Jim as he was affectionately known was an invaluable member who will be remembered for his kindness, his hard work and his advice on projects, not to mention he was a dab hand driving the locos too.

“He supplied the timber for the station building and was instrumental in the design and build of it along with a lot of other projects, his last being the bogie wagon which we will complete in his memory.”

EXPANSION: Redwells Joinery began in James’s garage.