Obituary: Graham Carson; Entrepreneur and community champion who designed a tartan and rebuilt a castle

Born: 26 April, 1936, in Glasgow. Died: 15 October, 2012, in Dumfries, aged 76.

Graham Carson was a most energetic and prominent businessman who became associated throughout the south- west of Scotland for his gracious spirit and generosity to a host of good causes. Carson entered his father’s food importing business in Glasgow and expanded the rice mill in the city before moving it to Motherwell. He also ran a cash and carry business among other ventures in Perth and Elgin. His main commercial interest remained in his food distribution division in Kirkcaldy. His other successful enterprises included Galloway and Country Style, Moorhead & McGavin and Food Hold.

Carson was an enterprising businessman with a shrewd mind for management and a canny ability at spotting a commercial opportunity. He was devoted to Scotland and furthering its business and social conditions.

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His abiding love of Scotland was demonstrated by his decision to design his own Carson tartan which is now worn around the world. He himself always wore the kilt and a friend in Dumfries once quipped: 
“Graham, I have never seen you with your trousers on.”

Robert Graham Carson attended Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh where he delighted in challenging authority and prided himself on being the most beaten boy in the school. But Merchiston gave him a life-long love of music and especially singing.

He did his national service as a pilot officer in the RAF and then joined the family firm. He broadened the company’s interests from the rice mill and food importing division. Thanks to his
astute management and his ability to get on with employees and clients the businesses prospered.

But Carson had always had a desire to renovate and own a castle. From the mid-1960 he and his wife, Buffy, used to drive around Scotland in search of a castle that needed restoring. In 1972 he bought Rusco Tower in Kirkcudbrightshire and started on the rebuilding. It was not until 1979 that they could actually live there though. The semi-rectangular tower, three storeys high, dates from 1565. In places its walls are three feet thick.

The castle is located near Gatehouse-of-Fleet and had originally belonged to the Carsnane family and passed by marriage in the early 16th century to Sir Robert Gordon of Lochinvar. Carson’s great-grandfather had been a farmer in Wigtownshire so it was felt appropriate for the family to buy Rusco Castle. Furthermore, Carson discovered that on the original site there was a castle, built in 1494 by Baron Carson. Despite much research into old registry 
documents there could be found no connection with Graham Carson’s forebears.

“Rusco had not been lived in for over a century,” Buffy Carson told The Scotsman. “We had no connection with the area and the castle had severe damp problems, a battered roof and it was cold. Very cold.

“We did have some minor financial hiccups,” Mrs Carson added. “It was the most beautiful situation with a magnificent view and I grew to love it – and our beautiful garden.”

For the attention to detail and meticulous care to preserve Rusco’s historic identity Carson was made a member of the Saltire Society in 1979 and was awarded the Society’s Housing Design Award.

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Carson played a major role in the life of Gatehouse and throughout Kircudbrightshire, becoming a much admired and respected member of the community.

He bought the old tannery buildings in Gatehouse and converted them into a grocery, gift shop, post office and kilt makers. With much pride he served as the town’s sub-postmaster. Carson was a pillar of Fleet Church in Gatehouse and latterly its senior elder. He was generous with his time and funds to help both the kirk and the Crichton Foundation – of which he was a patron.

Throughout his life Carson was a keen sportsman. In his youth he played off a low handicap at golf and was a member at Buchanan Castle and the Southerness club; the latter he particularly enjoyed playing, with its commanding views over the Solway Firth.

He was an excellent shot, and a keen angler and tennis player. He was also a generous supporter and president of the Galloway Cricket Club.

Carson and his wife travelled widely and often visited family and friends – particularly in Australia where they stayed with other Carsons – all wearing the correct tartan. At his funeral all Carson’s grandchildren wore the Carson tartan out of respect for their much loved grandfather. “Graham would have loved to see that,” said Mrs Carson. “It was quite a business getting them all ready. Graham was a dynamic chap and held in high esteem by everybody. He was quite a character.”

Graham Carson married Buffy in 1959. She survives him along with their children, Ian, Maureen and Sheila, ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Alasdair Steven