Tributes paid to man who was driving force of BSW Timber

Tributes have been paid to the long time boss of BSW Timber following his death at the age of 84.

Alexander J. Brownlie CBE –but better known as Sandy – passed away peacefully at home with his family on Friday.

He owned the BSW Timber business – which is a major local employer at its sawmill at Boat of Garten – until only a few months ago, and was central to the growth of the company over his lifetime.

Born on August 24, 1935 into the family sawmilling business based in the heart of the Scottish Borders, it was not a surprise that Sandy, after leaving school, had a brief spell in the office of a Liverpool timber broker and began working full-time in the business in 1953.

He spent only two weeks there before receiving his call-up papers for two years’ National Service.

When he returned in 1955, he worked at the company's auditors in Edinburgh before going back to what he loved, working in the Earlston sawmill, in the autumn of 1956.

He was appointed a director in 1959. Late 1970, Sandy pressed ahead with investment in new equipment and transport fleet.

With the team, he revived a business his father had come to believe was in decline.

Always quick to seize opportunities, in July 1981 A & R Brownlie bought Western Softwood, based in Wales.

Overnight Brownlie’s became a major force in the UK softwood producing industry and have continued to be so as the UK’s largest sawmilling business and now the UK’s only fully integrated forest products business with European operations.

Thomas Smith & Sons (Kirkoswald) Ltd, based in Ayrshire was acquired by Sandy in 1988.

BSW Timber PLC was formed on 4 July 1988 with Sandy becoming BSW’s first chairman and by 1991 BSW had built a major new state of the art sawmill at Carlisle.

Sandy was awarded the CBE at Buckingham Palace by the Queen in 1994 for his services to the industry.

Throughout his career he served on many trade associations boards, always driving and promoting the forest industry.

An eye on the future, BSW seized the opportunity to buy in 2006 the former Arjo Wiggins paper mill in Fort William adjacent to its existing Kilmallie mill where the UK’s most technologically advanced sawmill now operates.

As chairman, Sandy was always eager to see the business grow further and had the strategic vision to make this happen. Sandy retired as chairman in 2009.

He was a most admired gentleman sawmiller and a captain of the sector, respected by his peers, colleagues, employees and friends for the passion and commitment to grow BSW and for being Sandy.

He will always be a part of BSW and in the heart of its employees.

Sandy was a well-loved personality amongst his circle of friends and family and was well known and respected throughout the Borderlands where he supported many organisations and charities. Later in life he enjoyed more free time and to travel and pursue his love of country pursuits.

He was an extremely modest gentleman with a down to earth attitude and dry sense of humour and always interested in everyone.

Sandy is survived by his beloved wife Maude, son Alex, daughters Jane, Kate and Clare and dear stepdaughters Liz and Trish.

BSW Timber was acquired by Leeds-based private equity firm Endless for an undisclosed sum after more than 170 years of family ownership in February, earlier this year.

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