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Ed Gillespie, Stoneywood paper mill former manager dies, 77

Ed Gillespie devoted much of his career to producing the vast rolls of paper created in his mill.
Ed Gillespie devoted much of his career to producing the vast rolls of paper created in his mill.

Ed Gillespie, past manager of Stoneywood paper mill and chief executive of Grampian Enterprise, has died aged 77.

Born in Greenock on February 2 1945 to shipyard maintenance engineer Edwin Gillespie and his wife Catherine, Ed was the eldest of their three children.

He was educated at St Mungo’s Primary School then St Columba’s Secondary before becoming a trainee of the Clyde Paper Company. This appointment provided the opportunity for further study and Ed began a paper science course at Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon Institute of Technology.

At the height of Stoneywood mill’s success, general manager, Ed Gillespie in 1986.

While there, he met and married student nurse Winnie Milne.  They tied the knot in April 1972 in the city’s Beechgrove Church while Ed worked for Donside paper mill.

From there he moved to Berwickshire’s Chirnside Paper Mill in 1974. The couple eventually returned to the Granite City in 1976 with Ed’s appointment at Stoneywood mill.

Stoneywood paper mill

He and Winnie made their home in Springfield Road while Ed climbed the ranks of the Wiggins Teape-owned mill.

He became general manager and held that post for 15 years, however, more opportunity would come up within the company.

Stoneywood general manager Ed Gillespie checking the quality of paper with machine man Michael Boag, right.

A move across the Pond to Appleton Paper Company, Wisconsin, as manufacturing director preceded a return to Aberdeen and a promotion to director of manufacturing development – a job with a global remit.

Grampian Enterprise

While working at Stoneywood, Ed had been on the board of Aberdeen Enterprise. In November 1998, through his involvement with the organisation, he left the paper industry to take up another challenge. Grampian Enterprise, which was still in its infancy, was in need of a new chief executive and Ed was the man for the job.

Never one to become stagnant in his career, Ed took on further job progression.

Ed Gillespie in his office in 1990. Image: DC Thomson Archives

Working from Aberdeen a day a week and Glasgow the rest of the time he became senior director of operations (west central region) for Scottish Enterprise. This was the last full-time role of his career.

‘Soul mate’

At home in Aberdeen Ed was a former burgess of the city. He was also board member of North East Farmers, Mental Health Aberdeen, Woollard and Henry, Glencraft and that of the Aberdeen Exhibition Centre.

In his spare time he liked dinghy sailing, competing successfully at both national and international level, and was a past commodore of Aberdeen and Stonehaven Yacht Club. He also enjoyed shooting and in later years rekindled a love of hobby of model making.

Ed, pictured in 1979, following his promotion from blade manager at Stoneywood to production manager.

Edwin Gillespie died on January 30 in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary following a short decline in his health. A celebration of his life took place in Aberdeen Crematorium’s West Chapel.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Winnie, who said: “Ed was my soul mate. We have been together for so many years it would be impossible to sum him up in any other way in just a few words.”

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