Raymond Butt – a lifetime of achievement

20 December 2009 | Forestry | Landscaping

For many people, the chance to start drawing a pension at 65 brings with it opportunities to do things they’ve always dreamed of, play more golf or simply take it easy and potter about in the garden. For Raymond Butt the official retirement age merely signified the commencement of the third chapter in his working life – representing Tubex Ltd in the North of England and Scotland.

During holidays as a teenager Raymond worked for the Forestry Commission and on leaving school went to Aberdeen University, where three years later, at the age of 20, he graduated with a Forestry degree.

Raymond applied to the Colonial Service and was accepted to go to The Uganda Protectorate. Once ensconced, life in Uganda suited Raymond, and those lucky enough to have spent time with “the old bugger” as he refers to himself, have enjoyed his many reminiscences. Words from Swahili still pepper Raymond’s vocabulary – experts in any field are referred to as ‘Fundis’.

Independence for Uganda in 1964 precipitated his return to the UK, and a vacancy with Scottish Woodlands was kept open until his return, leading to the second chapter in Raymond’s working career.

It’s debatable whether Raymond’s stamp remains on Scottish Woodlands to this day, or Scottish Woodlands’ stamp remains on Raymond. He still manages some woodland around Ettrick, and is well known and respected within the company.

Raymond worked at Scottish Woodlands until he was 66, when a chance conversation with Graham Hurlstone, founder of Tubex Ltd, led to the final chapter in his working life. Raymond’s wealth of forestry experience and his contacts in the industry made him a very valuable asset to the ‘fledgling’ company, and Tubex’ success, both in terms of overall sales and new product development, can be attributed in no small part to the efforts of ‘our man in the north’.

One of Raymond’s principle duties was to attend exhibitions on Tubex’ behalf, and he became an eagerly anticipated feature of most forestry shows throughout the UK. Patrolling his territory in front of the Tubex ‘cabin’, customers were met with straight talking advice and a dry sense of humour.

Much of Raymond’s recent time working for Tubex has been in conjunction with the store at Kinross; or ‘Raymond’s shop’. However, all good things must come to an end and, despite his still remarkable physical and mental capabilities Raymond has finally ‘hung up his boots’, coinciding with the closure of Kinross store. We are certain that Raymond will be missed by all who have had the pleasure of his company over the years and we would like to wish him all the best in this, the next chapter.