Robert Wilkie, one of the driving forces that made Lawson of Dyce a household name in the period after the Second World War, has died at a nursing home in Banchory at the age of 92.
Bob Wilkie or ''RP'' as his colleagues knew him, joined Robert Lawson and Sons in Dunfermline as a salesman at 19. It was a relatively small firm in the provisions trade and shortly thereafter moved to Dyce to develop the business.
After war service in the RAF, Wilkie rejoined the firm and married Elsa Sorenson, the Danish daughter of the factory manager.
From Dyce he developed sales of the company's products throughout the hinterlands of Aberdeenshire, Banff, and Moray. There were no multiple supermarkets in those days, just hosts of grocers and butchers. He then moved to Inverness and broadened the sales territory throughout the north, the west coast and outer isles.
His thirst to develop business was insatiable; he was subsequently moved back to Dunfermline, established as factory and area manager. Through establishing a sales team and an efficient distribution system, business expanded throughout Edinburgh and the Borders. He was appointed a director responsible for all sales and distribution of the Lawson business in the late 1950s.
His contribution to the development of the business was second only to FD and Robert Lawson. The respect the Lawson of Dyce name began to enjoy within UK provision and meat trade was due in large part to Wilkie's energy, enthusiasm, and loyalty.
In the years from 1946 to 1975, when Wilkie retired, the firm dominated the Scottish market with a turnover of (pounds) 40m per annum. At one point it was the largest employer in the Aberdeen area.
Wilkie had great ability to choose and manage people; in doing so he established a superb team of salesmen and distribution workers. The word marketing seldom entered his vocabulary. He either liked a product or he didn't: often with words in a broad Fife accent, ''I could sell that'', or ''I couldnae sell that''.
When the occasion arose, he exuded charm.
His greatest achievement, he maintained, was to secure the Marks and Spencer account. In the early 1960s, during one of his frequent visits to London, he was informed that Marks and Spencer was set to retail food products.The director, responsible was no less than Marcus Sieff, later Lord Sieff, chairman of Marks and Spencer. Wilkie, immediately jumped into a taxi to the retailer's offices in Baker St. He was confronted by a formidable Ccommissionaire who inquired of his business.
Wilkie replied: ''I've come to see Mr Marcus Sieff''.
''Have you an appointment''?
''Look,''replied Wilkie, ''I wouldn't have come all the way from Aberdeen if I had no appointment.''
He was duly met at the lift door by a personal secretary.
''Mr Wilkie, there must be some mistake. I have no record of making an appointment for you to see Mr Sieff.''
Turning on the charm, Wilkie said: ''I know that, my dear, but I have travelled all the way from Aberdeen to see him.'' She disappeared down the corridor. On her return, she said: '' You are very lucky, Mr Sieff is in
his office this afternoon and is prepared to give you a few moments of his time.''
Returning north, the incident was forgotten, until three months later he received a letter inviting him to Baker Street.
Wilkie recalled: ''When Frank Lawson and Marcus Sieff met, they hit it off, just like that.'' Within four years Lawson's was supplying (pounds) 80,000 of products per week, that was when a pork pie was 6d and a packet of bacon 2/6d.
In his youth, Wilkie was a fine tennis player, competing at the Osborne Tennis Club, Aberdeen. He once played the legendary Fred Perry. In his own words, he did not win the game. Latterly he developed a penchant for golf.
He was a modest man and lived a modest life. On reflection, he never really realised how good he was, nor appreciated the contribution he had made to the well-being of so many people. His wife predeceased him in 1999. He is survived by two daughters both of whom live in Australia.
Robert Penman Wilkie, businessman; born on August 12, 1910, died August 2, 2003.
FGL
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