Businessman Bill Fleming dies at 65

Apr 23 2009 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON businessman Bill Fleming, who founded the successful Smiley tyre and exhaust chain, has died.

The 65-year-old, who was involved in a variety of Scottish business ventures, passed away following a battle with cancer.

Bill attended Low Waters Primary School and Hamilton Academy and lived in the Hamilton area for much of his life.

He had also been a stalwart of Hamilton Round Table in its heyday.

His tyre and exhaust business had its origins in Uddingston in the 1960s after he rented out a small garage in the village to carry out repairs.

Bill also ran a taxi from the premises and fitted tyres for a neighbouring business, but when it folded he started supplying tyres himself and then exhausts.

After he opened his third tyre and exhaust centre in 1969, he changed the business’s name from Smellie to Smiley.

Twenty years later it had a turnover of £25m. A third of the company was sold to Continental AG in 1989 and three years later Continental bought the remainder.

Following the sale, Bill bought Hamilton’s Barncluith House, a 16th century mansion beside the River Avon at Hamilton.

He had first seen the tower house while working as a labourer for the Duke of Hamilton soon after leaving school.

His business success was later to enable him to devote himself to restoring the house’s gardens with the help of a horticulturalist.

He was also involved in the music scene in the 1960s and helped to organise pop concerts across Scotland. Other businesses he helped establish included the magazines What’s On and 242 Showbeat.

In 1994, Bill launched the Tower Bookshop Company named after the main feature of his Barncluith House.

With this project he tried to challenge the net book agreement and give readers a cur-price deal. However, this met with opposition from the Publishers’ Association and the firm collapsed.

Bill was declared personally bankrupt, which relatives described as a tough and dark time for the gifted entrepreneur.

He was forced to sell Barncluith House and moved to Fenwick in Ayrshire.

“He was a very determined man and was very committed to whatever cause or project he got behind,” said his cousin Ken Naismith this week.

“Bill could be very gregarious in a crowd. However, there was a shy side to him too. It would be fair to say he sometimes didn't find small talk easy.

“However, as he got older you could see a more human side to Bill.

“He told me openly that the bankruptcy helped him to put things into perspective. He appreciated how people's fortunes can sometimes change from good to bad, and from bad to good, all too quickly."

Latterly, Bill devoted much of his energy to working for Tinto Laser Services in Strathclyde Business Park and had an interest in industrial recycling.

He also mentored young entrepreneurs through the Glasgow Opportunities group where he was chairman.

His funeral took place in Fenwick last Friday and he is survived by his wife Sandra and daughters Lucy, Alison and Susan.