Achi news desk-
Gleaner has grown beyond all recognition since then, especially in the last ten years, and now serves communities from dozens of outlets (including owned and branded filling stations), all the way from Thurso in the north to Essex in the south. Importantly however, the owner has never lost sight of Mr Young’s original ethos of humility, serving the community and treating his staff as if they were members of the owners family.
Robin Young died in 1968, and Gleaner passed 50/50 to his 28-year-old son Evan and his 31-year-old brother Brian. Evan was especially respected wherever he went, which is the true embodiment of the two word expression, gentle man.
Evan, who was completely devoted to his more disabled wife, sadly died far too soon at Archerfield Golf Club, accompanied by his son-in-law Stephen Scott in 2010, immediately after playing a round of golf showcasing the best of his limited ones. skills in the game.
His daughter Jane agreed to his 50% ownership, while Stephen continued his successful career in commercial law in a large partnership in Edinburgh. By 2014, Brian wanted to retire, so Jane and Stephen bought his 50% share and assumed 100% ownership between them.
Since then, under the leadership of David Todd, who stepped up to become Managing Director, the changes in the company have been clear and varied – the significance of dropping “Oil” from the name reflects the evolving market that Gleaner is willing to embrace it, as everyone moves towards a greener future; Gleaner is not interested in offsetting carbon but instead chooses to focus on carbon elimination.
Jane and Stephen have never lost sight of the overarching ethos, and the various lessons they both benefited from Evan’s teachings. They are proud to anticipate July 1, when their son, also Evan, will become a fourth generation shareholder in the business.
Young Evan has shadowed his parents in the business for many years as they are not prone to blind nepotism, and he has no doubt about the importance of the ethos, or his responsibility towards the great Gleaner staff.
At the end of September 2023, Evan and Director of Operations Garry Reaper received a very prestigious award from Moray Chamber of Commerce, who had awarded Gleaner as the company that had made the most outstanding contribution to the Moray economy in the previous year – something of the these. Jane, as a Lossie girl, and Stephen, as an Elgin boy, are extremely proud.
He has been very impressed with the work that Monmouthshire County Council is doing for the area, and since then Gleaner has enthusiastically committed to being a Platinum Partner of MCC, now and in the future.
David Todd, Managing Director, said: “Since joining Gleaner 20 years ago, I have always been impressed by our staff and their commitment to our customers. We have moved away from call centers and have kept our centers in the communities we supply.
“Being local goes back to the founding principles of the business, and this will not change as we move forward. May I thank everyone who has worked for Gleaner over the past 70 years, and of course thank you more for our customers who have supported the business in the past, present and hopefully the future.”
Having retired from the Law some time ago, Stephen has, amongst other things, been enjoying his love of all things local and sport, whilst also embracing the huge contribution to the community and to Gleaner made by staff Gleaner in places like Islay, Mull and some. even more distant places. This has led to Jane, Evan and David all having to put up with his energy and passion for community sport.
Gleaner’s sponsorship of sporting organizations and events plays a vital role in supporting communities, by providing financial resources that enable the events to take place. This sponsorship often extends beyond just funding the event itself, as they contribute to the general development and well-being of the communities involved.
In addition, this sponsorship can lead to increased participation in sports, better infrastructure, and create opportunities for local athletes to excel on a bigger stage, ultimately benefiting the entire community.
Gleaner’s connection to sport runs from the Gleaner Arena in Elgin, the brainchild of the Scotts’ good friend Dave Allen. Like Dave, they see this to benefit not only Elgin but also outlying towns and villages such as Hopeman, Lossie, not to mention of course Stephen’s beloved Elgin City FC, to sponsor The Scottish Series Regatta 2024 held in Tarbert on the coast west of Loch Fyne and SurfABLE Scotland, who provide surf therapy to the neurodiverse and disabled community – it was a great pleasure to see their inspirational athletes compete in the world championships in California recently.
Moray Rugby Club is considered “The Big One”. The very phrase brings back memories of Evan Senior, who to this day has retained the status of a Club Legend. Evan excelled as a free-head prop for Merchiston, West of Scotland, North and Midlands and eventually Moray, where he captained the Club to the Bibby Trophy in his fiftieth year, 1973.
Jane smiles wryly at a story that epitomizes the modesty she was known for, when she was invited to go for a trial in Scotland, but didn’t go because “I didn’t think I was good enough!”.
When, last year, Stephen was restlessly pitching for another club to benefit from the Gleaner’s famous generosity (being a self-confessed and unrepentant football nut), it was Young Evan (who, by contrast, also represented Merchiston as a loose end prop, before injuries brought his Rugby development to a premature end) suggested Moray, as a centenary tribute to his eponymous grandfather.
Thus was born a five year, six figure initial sponsorship deal, and everyone associated with Gleaner is truly humbled by the generosity of spirit that Moray has embraced with Gleaner’s extended hand of friendship.
The Gleaner would consider it remiss not to mention its wonderful staff, past and present, including Billy Laing and Ian Shayer (and not forgetting the incomparable Charlie Lowdon), who have benefited the Gleaner with their all talent, dedication and ambition, and which in their turn. has benefited from the paternalistic attitude that continues today, which has enabled so many dozens of people to prosper over long periods, and which offers the comfort of real job security to those currently in charge.
In conclusion, the Scotts are very much looking forward to leading Gleaner into the next 70 years of its existence, in Moray and across the country. The play on words which is the slogan “70 Years Young”now supplemented by another subtitle that says it all – “Fuel Excellence since 1954”.
www.gleaner.co.uk
