Lord Macfarlane: Tributes paid to titan of Scottish business

The son of a Glasgow councillor, Norman Macfarlane was born in Shawlands in Glasgow and attended the High School of Glasgow.

Founder of the Macfarlane group in 1949, he retired as chairman of Macfarlane in 1998. He also held the position of chairman of United Distillers, which came after he joined Guinness plc in 1986 as the merger with United was going through, and honorary life president of successor firm Diageo.

Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden holding the St Mungo prize medal after he was presented with the award by Lord Provost Liz Cameron at a presentation ceremony at the City Chambers in Glasgow. He is pictured with his wife Greta.

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Stuart Paterson, chairman of Macfarlane Group, said ‘Lord Mac’ was an inspirational leader, an astute businessman and a strongly supportive shareholder while Ivan Menezes, chief executive of Diageo, described him as a towering figure in Scottish business and society.

Lord Macfarlane was a member of CBI Scotland, a board member of the Scottish Development Agency and a member of the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland. He was a member of Glasgow Art Club for more than 50 years and was also honorary patron of Queen’s Park FC where he was a regular attender with his wife Greta, Lady Macfarlane.

Lord Macfarlane of Bearsden being sworn in as a Baron in the House of Lords.

It was his passion for the arts and in Glasgow in particular that saw him become a champion of the city.

Dr Bridget McConnell, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life, which runs the city’s culture and leisure, described Lord Macfarlane was a true gentleman and one of Glasgow’s foremost champions, who understood and appreciated the enormous role art and culture can have in people’s lives.

She said: “His passion for Kelvingrove, which he described as “the jewel in Glasgow’s crown”, drove the hugely successful public appeal during its refurbishment between 2003 and 2006. He also played a huge part in the Glasgow Boys exhibition at Kelvingrove in 2010 which remains the definitive exhibition of their work to date. As a Glasgow Life board member when the charity was formed, and later as our vice-chairman, it was an honour and privilege to work with him.”

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Tracy Black, CBI Scotland Director, said he was a towering figure within the Scottish business community who made an equally invaluable contribution to cultural life in Scotland.

“A longstanding CBI member, Lord Macfarlane’s kindness, expertise and passion for industry was valued across the CBI – and particularly among those that served with him on a numerous CBI councils,” said Ms Black.

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said was Lord Macfarlane was a “genuine titan of Scottish business.”

He said: “Personally, I would pay tribute to his work in accelerating the transformation of Glasgow over the past 35 years. Through numerous roles, including his time as chairman of Glasgow Action and as first chairman of the Glasgow Development Agency, he played a profound part in Glasgow’s regeneration.

“He was held in the utmost regard by the business community and will be remembered for the countless roles he played through a life dedicated to Scottish society.”

Provost Liz Cameron presents Lord Mcfarlane with the St Mungo Prize in recognition for his distinguished service to the City of Glasgow at the City Chambers.

While Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said he will be fondly remembered for his passion of business, culture and the arts, and will be much missed by all that knew him, adding: “He leaves a legacy that will inspire generations to come.”

Paying tribute on Twitter Scottish artist Lachlan Goudie, whose father was renowned artist Alexander Goudie, said: “He was a great friend of my dad’s and a powerful supporter of the arts in Scotland.”

Former Lord Provost of Glasgow, Dr Michael Kelly said Lord Macfarlane was someone who was able to leave politics behind when it came to Glasgow.

Dr Kelly said: “He worked for the good of the city and helped to bring the civic and business of Glasgow together. He was very much a self-made man and turned a small business set up after the Second World War into what became the Macfarlane group.”

Robert Ferguson, President, The Glasgow Art Club, paid tribute and recalled: "I was a work colleague with him in Diageo and its predecessor, United Distillers as he built up an important collection of modern Scottish paintings for the company and over the years he gave the Glasgow Art Club much wise counsel which was greatly appreciated.

"We shared a love for art and I was very pleased to be able to call him both a mentor and a friend."

Lord Macfarlane at his beloved Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum with Glasgow's Spitfire

Former head of Glasgow Museums Mark O'Neill, who led the Kelvingrove refurbishment programme, said Lord Macfarlane demonstrated the power of a great city like Glasgow to inspire the loyalty and dedication of its citizens, in ways that transcend party politics.

He said: "As a Tory peer, he worked with then Labour Council to ensure that it was refurbished to a world class standard. He later worked with the SNP to ensure that Glasgow Life could sustain this quality throughout its culture, arts and sports facilities. Kelvingrove was designed at its foundation to be ‘of the people and for the people’, and Lord Macfarlane made a huge contribution to continuing that tradition. In all of this he was ably supported by Lady Macfarlane, who as a child had won the Art Appreciation essay competition in Kelvingrove."

President of Queen’s Park FC David Hunter said everyone at the club, of which Lord Macfarlane was honorary patron, were saddened to learn of his death.

Mr Hunter said: “Lord Macfarlane was a great support both on and off the pitch and offered assistance and guidance to many of our club presidents."

Lord Macfarlane held the office of Lord High Commissioner on three occasions.

Very Rev Dr John Chalmers, convener of the Assembly Trustees of the Church of Scotland, said: “Lord Macfarlane was held in the highest regard across the whole of the Church and he forged a close relationship with the serving Moderators and with the Assemblies which he served on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.

He added: “Many ministers will also remember his generosity to the Church at all levels, but perhaps the least known was his personal sponsorship of the Church of Scotland Golf Team in its annual match against the Church of England.

“On one occasion when he presented the trophy to the winning team, he commented that just a few months earlier he had been responsible for presenting the Ryder Cup and handing over the trophy to the captain of the Church of Scotland team was an equal honour.”

Remembering the former High School of Glasgow pupil, the school’s rector John O’Neill said: “There was no figure more important to the rebirth of The High School of Glasgow at a time we faced closure in 1976, than Lord Macfarlane.

“He had the vision, determination and leadership to ensure the story of the High School would continue.”