Drew Samuel

Died: July 18, 2015

Andrew (Drew) Samuel, who has died of cancer aged 78, was an architect, businessman and leading figure in the Confederation of British Industries (CBI). His architectural practice spanned a wide range of building, but he ran the family printing business and as a member of the Council of CBI Scotland, exerted a significant influence over the development of the organisation's policy.

He was born the only child to Letitia Shearer Samuel and Captain Andrew Samuel of the Merchant Navy and was educated at Mount Florida School and Hutchesons' Grammar School in Glasgow, where he was a keen sportsman particularly in rugby, athletics and swimming. He then progressed onto the Glasgow School of Architecture, playing in its rugby 1st XV.

Following qualification as a chartered architect, he established his own businesses, Auchengillan Estates Limited; Andrew Samuel & Co Limited Chartered Architects in Glasgow, Callander, and London; and Townhead Properties. His practice spanned both domestic and non-domestic properties.

He also took on a senior management role in the family printing business, first as non-executive director from 1982 to 1990 and then as managing director (from 1990 until his retirement) of Gavin Watson Limited, Printers, Glasgow. Punching above its weight in a very competitive sector at a time when many similar businesses were going into liquidation, the professionalism of this small business was often recognised through various awards.

Never half-hearted in his efforts, he would throw himself fully into all his commitments and he was often ahead of his time in his thinking and the identification of strategic opportunities. His straplines were "you lead by example" and "you lead from the front", illustrated by his routine of leaving home at 5am most mornings to open the printing factory and being one of the last to leave. For much of his life, he also managed a significant disability. With 70 per cent deafness from a young age (which was diagnosed when he was 11), he had to learn to lip read until he was 40 when he was fitted with his first hearing aid.

A significant focus for him from 1989 was the CBI of which he was a loyal, active, and long term member. He served on different committees, fora, and consultative groups of CBI Scotland, and was an elected member of the Council of CBI Scotland from 2005 and a senior member of various committees from 1988 onwards.

His membership of the CBI Scotland Council, Chief Executive's Forum, Growing Business Forum, Scottish Manufacturing Group, Scotland and UK Energy Groups, Small Firms Committee and Employment Policy Forum contributed significantly to the development of CBI policy in these areas. Many of the recommendations contained in CBI Scotland's business manifestos and policy papers were subsequently accepted and implemented by Government and he made invaluable advisory contributions in areas such as the construction of new transport infrastructure, non-domestic rates, and planning reform. He often represented the CBI in meetings with minsters with great distinction and success.

Many of his professional and charitable achievements are less well known. Earlier in his career, he made a significant contribution to the development and growth of tourism in the Stirlingshire and Trossachs area, persistently lobbying Perth County Council, the Scottish Office, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Scottish MPs at Westminster, and ultimately the Prime Minister in the process. He was a founder member and secretary of the Trossachs Tourist Association, and subsequently became honorary vice president and then honorary president. He was also chairman of the East Central Tourist Association and the Stirling District Tourist Association, initiator and then director of the Trossachs International Water Festival, and initiator of the Trossachs Report which resulted in the creation of the now world famous West Highland Way and the Trossachs and Loch Lomond National Park (1971).

In his remaining 'spare time', he undertook other charitable activities, such as significant fundraising for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

From an early age, he was also a proud and passionate Queen's Scout, becoming a Scout Leader in 1955. When he was only 19 years old, he took over the leaderless 34th Glasgow Cub Scout Pack and built it into a vibrant scouting community. His scouting and general common sense were unexpectedly put to the test on 11 April 1959 when he discovered the body of Helen McGhee after she failed to appear for a meeting with his mother; she had been stabbed 115 times. Mr Samuel was commended by the presiding Judge, Lord Sorn, of the criminal trial for his presence of mind in preserving the crime scene and evidence as well as contacting the police which played a significant part in the accused's subsequent conviction at trial.

He was an accomplished sportsman, particularly in canoeing over a range of distances (500m to 10,000, to cross-channel) during the early 1970s to early 1980s. His achievements included Scottish Kayak Champion and Marathon Champion, British Masters Champion, World Masters Kayak Champion, World Marathon Championships, Scottish and British Kayak team member.

Always keen to bring on the next generation of talented sportsmen and women, he formed the Trossachs Canoe and Boat Club in 1973 to inspire and train local school children and young people from the Stirlingshire area, accompanying them to racing events around the country. Undoubtedly his tireless input over so many years was instrumental in canoeing becoming one of the highest ranking UK sports on the world stage, including at Olympic level.

He was married to Sybille Marie Luise Pietsch from 1962 until 1981, and then to Mary Carswell Bisset. A loving and loved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, colleague, mentor, and friend, he is survived by his wife Mary, his children and their spouses, and eight grandchildren.