Wikipedia

Arnold Clark

Sir John Arnold Clark (27 November 1927 – 10 Aprile 2017) wis a Scots billionaire businessman. Clark appent ae shawroom in Glesga in 1954 an fand some success sellin cars. He stendit his business an Arnold Clark Automobiles becam a nationwide chain o motor dealerships an the maistmuckle private awnt business in Scotland.

Sir Arnold Clark
Sir Arnold Clark at his original Park Road branch in Glasgow
BornJohn Arnold Clark
27 November 1927(1927-11-27)
Glasgow, Scotland
Dee'd10 Apryle 2017(2017-04-10) (aged 89)
Glasgow, Scotland
ThriftBusinessman
OrganisationArnold Clark Group
Bairns10

Clark keppit his business faimilie awnt fur mair nor saxty yeir, steyin on as the chairman an heid executive. In 2016, he becam the first billionaire car dealer in Britain.

Early life eedit

John Arnold Clark wis born in a tenement in Tounheid, Glesge, on 27 November 1927.[1] His faither wis a Clydeside shipwirker.[2] He wint tae Dennistoun Primary Schuil an left home aged fowerteen athoot ony qualifications.[1][3] Durin the war, he flittit tae Arran.[4]

He wis conscriptit tae the Royal Air Force (RAF) near the end o the Seicont Warld War at the age o seiventeen,[5] an wirkit as a Motor Mechanics Instructor.[1] He makit the rank o Corporal[1] an wad later sey that durin this time his self discipline cam intil bein, alang wi heidship qualities.[3]

Car salesman eedit

 
Ae early pictur o Clark

Clark left the RAF in the early 1950s, but wisna able tae fin ae job.[3][6] He uised his demob siller tae buy a 1933 Morris Ten-Four fur £70, an efter restorin it, selt it fur a profit.[7] Clark stairtit buyin an sellin cars, gettin his first shawroom in 1954 in Glesga's Pairk Road. He siccart his first retail franchise fur Morris Motors in 1959, then durin the early 1960s pit up shawrooms in Bothwell Street, an in Paisley an Bearsden an aw.[8]

He foondit a finance company in 1963, sae fowk didna hae tae bring in their baunk manager whan buyin vehicles fae him.[9] In the 1960s, Clark stendit intil the rental vehicle mercat an aw.[10] In 1968, he teuk ower Grant, Melrose and Tennant giein the company an accident repair centre.[10] Bi the late 1980s, Arnold Clark haed brainches athort Central Scotland an ane in Ingland.[11]

Bi September 2002, Arnold Clark haed 97 dealerships an wi annual sales expectit to reach £1 billion, it wis conseidert Scotland's maistmuckle private company.[12] In Mey 2006, the company bocht oot the Harry Fairbairn BMW an Mini dealership.[13] The company appent ae car shawroom in the regeneratit Glesga Haven, that at the time wis Europe's mucklest.[2] The neist yeir Clark's company wis nearin ae £2 billion turnower.[14]

At the age of 80, Clark wis still a director o his company, getin a salary of £1.3 million.[15] He steyed on as chairman an chief executive, makin him the company's heichest peyed director an wis receivin near £2 million a yeir bi 2012.[16] In September 2014, the company’s turnower wis near £3 billion.[17]

By 2014, his weal wis estimatit at £675 million, aheid o Britain's ither car dealers.[18] The Sunday Times Rich List 2016 estimatit that the fortune awnt bi Clark an his faimily tae be mair nor £1 billion, makin him Britain's furst billionaire car dealer.[19] He kythed on The World's Billionaires list makit up bi Forbes fur the furst time in Mairch 2017.[20]

Awairds an honours eedit

In the 2004 New Year Honours, Clark wis makit ae Knight Bachelor, fur services tae the motor industry, an fur his commonity thrift in Scotland.[3][21] The University of Glasgow gied him ae honorary degree in 2005.[22] He wis presentit wi Car Dealer Magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.[23]

Personal life eedit

Clark wis mairret twice, an haed ten bairns, sax sons an fower dochters.[24] Clark haed fower loons fae his furst mairrige, tho een loon dee'd in 1995 in Helensburgh at the age o 33.[5][25] His seicont mairrage wis tae Philomena an thay haed sax bairns thegither.[1] Clark sattlit in the wee toun o Killearn[1] an wis ae kirk elder.[24][26] He dee'd on 10 April 2017, aged 89.[7]

Car collection eedit

Clark haed ae "extensive collection of classic cars", includin a Ford Model T Town Car (1915), a Ford Model T Coupé (1924), a Citroën Cloverleaf (1926), a Rolls-Royce Park Ward Single Tourer 20 hp (1928), an Austin Heavy 12 (1929).[7]

Yacht eedit

Clark bocht the Maxi yacht Drum fae Simon Le Bon in 1988.[7] The 78 fit craft is sailt wi a gang o 22. That year, Clark led the annual Tobermory race, afore Drum wis involved in a collision wis a Royal Navy submarine, aboot five mile aff the Mull of Kintyre.[27] He loaned it back tae Le Bon in 2005[28] an the yacht wis aft loant oot tae ither organisations tae raise siller fur chairable causes.[29]

References eedit

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Davison, Phil (11 Apryle 2017). "Obituary – Sir Arnold Clark, car tycoon". The Herald. Retrieved 12 Apryle 2017.
  2. ↑ a b "Clark opens Clydeside showroom". The Herald. 12 August 2006. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  3. ↑ a b c d "Car tycoon's pride at honour". BBC News. 31 December 2003. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  4. ↑ Leadbetter, Russell (20 Apryle 2017). "Sir Arnold Clark funeral: Touching eulogy from son of 'devoted' Sir Arnold". Evening Times. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  5. ↑ a b "Arnold Clark's son is found dead Son of Arnold Clark found dead at home". The Herald. 26 Januar 1995. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  6. ↑ "The Scotsman with the golden touch". Motor Trader Magazine. 24 November 1997. Retrieved 13 Apryle 2017.
  7. ↑ a b c d "Scottish billionaire car dealer Sir Arnold Clark dies". BBC News. 10 Apryle 2017. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  8. ↑ Swindon, Peter (10 Apryle 2017). "Sir Arnold Clark 1927–2017: How Scot became Britain's first billionaire car dealer". The Herald. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  9. ↑ Fraser, Douglas (11 Apryle 2017). "Sir Arnold and the Punk". BBC News. Retrieved 12 Apryle 2017.
  10. ↑ a b Pease, Victoria (10 Apryle 2017). "Sir Arnold Clark: How £70 motor turned into car empire". STV News. Archived frae the original on 27 Januar 2019. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  11. ↑ "Long pedigree keeps motor dealership in pole position". The Herald. 12 Apryle 1989. p. 5. Retrieved 11 Apryle 2017.
  12. ↑ "Arnold Clark on route to sales of £1bn". The Scotsman. 26 September 2002. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  13. ↑ "Arnold Clark empire powers ahead Fairbairn acquired in multi-million-pound deal". The Herald. 12 Mey 2006. Retrieved 11 Apryle 2017.
  14. ↑ "Arnold Clark buys Newcastle's Patterson". The Scotsman. 3 November 2007. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  15. ↑ "Arnold Clark drives up sales as founder sees his salary rise 30%". The Scotsman. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  16. ↑ Dorsey, Kirsty (29 September 2012). "Dealership acquisition still the driving force for Arnold Clark". The Scotsman. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  17. ↑ Dorsey, Kirsty (27 September 2014). "Arnold Clark turnover hits record £3 billion mark". The Scotsman. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  18. ↑ Brown, Dave (20 Mey 2014). "Leading dealers feature prominently in Sunday Times Rich List". Car Dealer Magazine. Retrieved 13 Apryle 2017.
  19. ↑ "Sir Arnold Clark 'first billionaire car dealer'". BBC News. 24 Apryle 2016. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  20. ↑ Kirsch, Noah (10 Apryle 2017). "Billionaire Car Dealer Arnold Clark Dies At 89". Forbes. Retrieved 13 Apryle 2017.
  21. ↑ "Tycoon Arnold is knighted". The Scotsman. 30 Juin 2004. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  22. ↑ "Senate Office: Honorary Degrees 2005". University of Glasgow. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  23. ↑ "Revealed: The deserving winners of the 2015 Used Car Awards". Car Dealer Magazine. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  24. ↑ a b Williamson, Mark (1 Mey 2004). "Knight of the road's tale Sir Arnold Clark The Scottish motor trade's leading light has found hard work brings many rewards". The Herald. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  25. ↑ "Neck injury found on Arnold Clark's son". The Herald. 27 Januar 1995. Retrieved 10 Apryle 2017.
  26. ↑ "Sir Arnold Clark's family trust receives first dividend". The Herald. 19 Apryle 2005. Retrieved 12 Apryle 2017.
  27. ↑ Cramb, Auslan (18 Julie 1988). "Probe after submarine collides with yacht". The Glasgow Herald. p. 5. Retrieved 12 Apryle 2017.
  28. ↑ Murray, Margaret (10 August 2005). "LeBon & Arnold Clark Drum retire from Rolex Fastnet Race". Yachts and Yachting. Retrieved 11 Apryle 2017.
  29. ↑ "£250,000 Facelift for Drum". Yachting Monthly. 1 Mey 2007. Retrieved 11 Apryle 2017.
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