Sadness at death of ‘Mr Advertiser’

Apr 18 2008 Report by John Rowbotham

A MAN who became known to the business community as ‘Mr Hamilton Advertiser’ has died after a short illness.

George Hutton, who was 83, worked at the paper for 50 years.

For many years, George was advertising manager for the Advertiser and the paper’s sister titles.

He was a familiar figure to shops and businesses large and small who advertised with the papers.

George was one of a family of six born to Margaret and George Hutton, of Johnstone Street, Hamilton.

He was educated at the town’s Woodside School and left to begin half a century of service at the Advertiser broken only by a four-year stint in the Royal Navy during World War Two.

He left the Senior Service in 1946, after reaching the rank of petty officer, and returned to the Advertiser.

George started as an office junior and was later promoted to general office manager, but his career took a different turn when he joined the paper’s advertising team.

He quickly established himself as an advertising salesman, building a rapport with traders that he maintained throughout his working life.

He retired aged 65 and for a year worked in a consultancy capacity with the Evening Times in Glasgow.

Joe Kelly, editor-in-chief of Scottish and Universal Newspapers, publishers of the Advertiser, said: “George was a newspaper man through and through. He knew the business inside out and made a big contribution to the success of the company.”

George, who lived in Hillhouse, was devoted to his wife of 56 years, Jean.

Jean (78), who is from Blantyre, was working for Littlewoods Pools when they first met in The Salon, a former Hamilton dance hall.

They were married in Stonefield Parish Church, Blantyre.

Outside work, George was a die-hard Hamilton Accies supporter who was delighted at the club’s recent success.

He celebrated his 80th birthday with a corporate day out at an Accies game, organised by his nephew John Wood.

As she prepared for his funeral yesterday (Wednesday) at South Lanarkshire Crematorium, Jean said: “He left a memory that I am proud to own.”

George Hutton, born May 7, 1924, leaves a wife Jean, nephew John Wood and great-nephew, Gary Wood.

“George was a newspaper man through and through. He knew the business inside out and made a big contribution to the success of the company” - editor-in-chief Joe Kelly