President of the Scottish Wine and Spirit Merchants Benevolent Institution.

Mr. James Young. 1974.

THE PRESIDENT: Mr. James Young.

When the annual dinner of the Scottish Wine and Spirit Merchants’ Benevolent Institution is held in the Albany Hotel, Glasgow, next week, the occasion will be president. He is Glasgow and West of Scotland manager of Thomas Usher and Son.

A native of Glasgow and educated at Allan Glen’s School, Mr. Young joined Steel, Coulson and Co., taking charge of the dispatch department at the firm’s Greenhead Brewery in Glasgow.

In 1944 he was appointed bulk beer representative and was afterwards promoted to the position of sales manager, continuing in this capacity when Steel, Coulson’s were taken over by Vaux Breweries, Ltd., in 1957.

In 1962, when Thomas Usher and Son were taken over by Vaux and merged with Steel, Coulson’s as Usher’s Brewery, Ltd., he was appointed Glasgow and West of Scotland manager of the new organisation, a position he has since retained.

Mr. Young has always been a popular personality in trade circles, and the honour that came to him last year in being appointed president of the Institution was a well deserved one. He has filled the position with credit.

Apart from his job, his main interests are his home and his family. His wife, his two daughters and his four grandchildren claim most of his time. He does, however, enjoy an occasional game of golf or bowls.

His career in the trade has been a happy one, but he is looking forward to a little more leisure when he retires in about a years time. With the spacious accommodation available at the Albany Hotel, the attendance, 580 applications have been met, promises to be a record one for a Benevolent dinner and probably a record one for a licensed trade function in Scotland.

The principal speaker will be Mr. Paul D. Nicholson, C.A., joint managing director of Vaux Breweries, Ltd., who will propose the toast of “Our Institution”. The president’s toast, “Sport and Our Industry”, will be proposed by Mr. Cliff Hanley, journalist and broadcaster, and, responding, will be Mr. J. Kenneth Hutchison, C.A., chief executive, the Scottish Sports Council.

Mr. Leslie B. C. Hodge, sales director, William Grant and Sons, Ltd., will propose the toast of “Our Guests” and this will be replied to by Sir James W. MacFarlane, ex-convener, the County of Renfrew.

Mr. John A. Speedman, secretary, is to be complimented on the arrangements he has made for the function.