Motor trade executive and rugby administrator

Born: July 16, 1940;

Died: November 18, 2016

TOM Inglis, who has died aged 76, was a respected figure in two different spheres, the motor trade and rugby, achieving success in both fields.

Born in Ayr, both his parents were teachers, as were two of his three brothers, while his father WH Inglis, rose to become director of education for Ayrshire. The young Tom attended Ayr Academy, where he played rugby and cricket and boxed – although when he was told by his PE teacher that he would be boxing Ian “Mighty Mouse” McLauchlan, the future Scotland rugby captain, he decided he was going down for the full count, and duly did so.

After the Academy, Tom went straight into industry, as a management trainee with GKN at their Scottish Stamping and Engineering Works in Ayr. He spent two years there before transferring to the motor trade, joining local Ford dealers Dalblair Motors, as a car salesman.

Here he met Liz, his wife of 48 years, but, equally importantly, he found his niche. He rose quickly through the ranks to become sales manager, then managing director, before, Ford, realising his potential, offered him the chance to own and run his own dealership. He formed Strathford Motors, initially at Dumbarton, later adding further outlets in East Kilbride and Kilmarnock, and, to his great joy, a Jaguar dealership – Inglis of Ayr, back in his home town.

Such was his popularity among fellow Ford dealers, he was elected chairman of the Scottish Ford Dealers Association, later becoming the first Scot to chair the UK Ford Dealers Council, a post which saw him representing over 400 Ford dealers nationwide in their dealings with the manufacturers.

Rugby was his other great love. He played in the XV at Ayr Academy, moving seamlessly to Ayr Rugby Club, where he was a major figure in the club's management. He took on the role of sevens convener, saying: “I'll do it until we win our own tournament” - thereby landing the job for 22 years.

He fulfilled various roles on the Ayr committee, up to a hugely successful four-year term as president from 1977, during which he oversaw the extending of the Millbrae stand. It was opened with a gala match for which Tom and Gordon Brown put together a “British Lions Select”, which included some of the biggest names in the game, including old school-mate Ian McLauchlan.

He was a stalwart of the legendary Ayr A2s XV – the club's fourth team. This was a motley collection of has-beens, never-would-bes, plus one or two future stars, who fully endorsed the cult of coarse rugby. Several of them could, had they not been burdened by running family firms in Ayr, marriage and parenthood or professional calls, have played for the Ayr first team, instead, they turned up on a Saturday and had a laugh, a game of rugby and a few beers. The A2s stories are legend, not least the “Macrihanish trip”, while one or two future Ayr stars were given a gentle introduction to adult rugby in the care of Inglis and his fellow veterans.

When he moved to Helensburgh, he brought his combination of drive and enthusiasm to Helensburgh Rugby Club, being a particular supporter of the club's youth wing and playing a significant role in the club's success. He spent 14 years as president of Helensburgh Rugby and Cricket Club.

He served on the Glasgow District committee, and had a short but successful spell as one of Scottish Rugby's ultimate “Alickadoos” (all he could do was talk), with a four-year spell on the main SRU board. He donated his SRU director's fees to Helensburgh RFC and his lofty position undoubtedly helped persuade the Princess Royal along to open Helensburgh's new grandstand in 2012. He also set up the Patrons section, which has brought additional income to the club.

He golfed, was captain of Helensburgh Golf Club during their centenary year, and was subsequently honorary president. He was also a member at Loch Lomond GC.

He also loved Arran, combining walking holidays on the island with golf on the 12-hole Shiskine course, which he loved.

He was one of the founders and leaders of Ayr RFC's Five o' Clock Club, which met, every Friday at five in a popular Ayr hotel, before decamping to the Rugby Club. The hotel owners suddenly upped the price per pint by five pence, but, the boys let it pass, until, a month later, Tom Inglis broached the subject of the sudden price rise with the owner.

“I'm sorry Tom, I felt we were attracting some riff-raff, so I put the price up to deter them”, was the explanation given.

“OK, but, it hasn't worked – we still drink in here,” was Tom's response.

He was an accomplished and popular after-dinner speaker, knew his Burns and did a good address to the haggis and toast to the lassies.

Whether baby sitting young backs for Ayr A2s, or being involved in Helensburgh RFC's youth programme, or, in his business life, helping establish Dumbarton District Enterprise Trust, Tom Inglis believed in youth – so maybe those teaching genes were working all along.

Tom Inglis is survived by Liz and their children, David, Shona, Victoria and Andrew and grandchildren, Corrie, Findlay, Madeleine, Ruaridh, Joy, Erin, Kyle, Elsa and Innes.

MATT VALLANCE