Drtom Johnston

CEO and chairman of Barr & Stroud and treasurer of Strathclyde University; Born: June 27, 1927; Died: March 22, 2013.

TOM Johnston, who has died aged 86, was the CEO and chairman of Barr & Stroud who became the treasurer of the University of Strathclyde, his alma mater, and presided over a turbulent period in the late 1980s. With his acute understanding of financial matters, he steered the university to stability which has been built on by subsequent treasurers.

Tom (or “Jock” as he was known to his wife Gwen’s English family) was born in Carradale on the Mull of Kintyre. His father, John, was head gardener on the estate of Torresdale Castle, and it was while helping him he developed a lifelong passion for gardening. In 1938, at the age of 11, the family moved to Glasgow, where he continued his education at Rutherglen Academy.

On leaving school with five good Highers, he started a technical apprenticeship with John McNicol Electrical Engineers and continued studying at night school.

In 1945 he enrolled at the Royal Technical College, one of the foremost engineering colleges in the UK, and the forerunner of Strathclyde University. It was a Sir James Caird Travelling Scholarship which made it financially possible for him to become a full-time student. During his undergraduate years he went on work placements to the Midlands where he met the love of his life, Gwen, whom he married in December 1949; they were married for 57 years until her death in 2006.

In 1949 he graduated with a good Honours degree in electrical engineering and the following year became an Associate of The Royal Technical College. After his degree he moved south. He recalled his experience with Hawker Siddeley, English Electric and GEC with pleasure, especially mixing with the war veterans.

Not long after the end of the Second World War he saw a job advertised with Barr & Stroud in Glasgow. The position was assistant works manager and, more importantly, included accommodation in a spacious flat in Hyndland Road, as there were now four children, Christine, Paul, Anne and Joyce.

He began as an engineer in the development and production of optical and electronic equipment and made such an impact that in 1963, at the age of 36, he became the youngest director in the history of the company. His rise to board level reflected not only recognition of his technical and engineering talents but also realisation of how finely honed his financial skills were. This pioneering firm with its range of projects involving frontier science and technology – precision optics, lasers and thermal imaging – required to make a considerable financial commitment to research and development and required expert advice of the sort Dr Johnston was able to provide.

He went on to become managing director and retired as chairman in 1990. During his leadership the company grew and merged with the Pilkington Group; entered new markets; and expanded in the UK, America and Japan. In 1986 the Ministry of Defence placed a contract for the latest opto-electonic periscopes for the new Vanguard class of nuclear submarines – a major coup. His final task before retiring in 1990 was to move the company from its well-known location at Anniesland Cross to a new, purposebuilt facility on the other side of the Clyde Tunnel. The company lives on and prospers – now owned by the French company Thales Optronics.

During the later years of his working life with Barr & Stroud and continuing well into his 70s, Dr Johnston used his skills working with many organisations. He was in demand because of his astute approach to business and directorships of a range of institutions followed: the West Board of the Bank of Scotland, Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society, Glasgow Technology Academy, Glasgow Development Agency. He was also a trustee of the Scottish Civic Trust and chairman of Science Projects (Scotland) Ltd, a member of the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board, a member of the management committee of the Glasgow Dome of Discovery, a board member of Greater Glasgow Health Board, to mention just a fraction of his associations.

Other honours were conferred in recognition of his many achievements. He was awarded an honorary fellowship in 1990 by the University of Paisley, he became a chartered engineer, a fellow of The Institute of Electrical Engineers and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and in 1982 he received an OBE for services to industry.

His career and vocational interests were not permitted to entirely overwhelm his recreational pursuits of grand opera, cottage gardening and low hills, but as he scaled back his work commitments they were allowed to gain greater importance in his life. He now also had more time to spend with the children and grandchildren on whom he doted and of whom he was very proud.

Remembering how a scholarship from the Royal Technical College had helped him financially to gain his degree, he thought it was time he gave something back to the University of Strathclyde. His renewed support for his alma mater began when he became a member of the University Court in 1985, after several years as a board member of the Strathclyde Business School. In 1988 he became treasurer and devoted an increasing proportion of his time to the university’s service.

His contribution to the university cannot be underestimated; as treasurer he was a significant figure in its recent history. His term of office saw the establishment of a unitary administration and the return of the university from the brink of bankruptcy to financial good health. He guided it through a period of enormous financial turbulence and risk at the end of the 1980s.

He was the perfect lay member of Court, bringing wisdom, relevant experience and good connections when needed, but knowing where to draw the line between executive and non-executive. He developed a deep and enduring commitment to the university.

He supported those whowonhis confidence through thick and thin, winning their loyalty and respect in return. He was ever willing to share the wisdom he had gained from his long and distinguished career in business. “Always aim to throw away more paperwork than you keep at the end of each day,” was one of many wise pieces of advice.

The University of Strathclyde benefited greatly from his association with it, as student, member of Court and Treasurer, and is diminished by his death. Although one of Scotland’s most influential businessmen, he was first and foremost a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and a generous, loyal and trusted friend to those of us privileged enough to be part of his life.

He is survived by his children Paul, Christine, Joyce and Anne and his grandchildren David, Katy, Ewan, Neil and Linda.