| The son of a farmworker, Mr Emslie was born just outside Brechin and was educated at various schools in Angus as his parents moved to different farms throughout the county.
He began his apprenticeship as a mechanic with Morrison’s of Forfar.
His apprenticeship was interrupted by national service with the army, mainly in Suez, and on his return, completed his apprenticeship and began working with Kirkwoods of Forfar, where he met his wife Betty.
The couple married in 1952.
Mr Emslie then joined Reekies of Forfar working on tractors, and through that, he developed a strong relationship with the farmers in the area.
He then moved into car sales and in 1966, he had the opportunity to move down to Broughty Ferry and take over Walter D. Watt motor engineers, in Brook Street.
The firm had seen many good years, but at the time Mr Emslie took it over, it was effectively bankrupt.
Through hard work and determination, he restored confidence in the business and built up a trustworthy relationship with the local community.
Away from business, Mr Emslie was a keen sportsman, and was a goalkeeper with several junior league sides.
He represented the Angus Select team where his understudy was a young Bill Brown — who later went on to play for Dundee, Tottenham Hotspur and Scotland.
However, when Mr Emslie had to choose between the business and the game, and he decided to give up football.
He was also a keen curler and held many committee posts with Fotheringham Curling Club. In May, he was made honorary chairman.
Mr Emslie was an enthusiastic golfer and was a member of Forfar Golf Club, and 10 years ago, when a bypass operation gave him a new lease of life, he took up Scottish Country dancing.
However, his garden was the great love of his life and he spent every spare moment tending what has become a talking point for locals in the Ferry.
Mr Emslie is survived by his wife and two sons, Bill junior, who will be carrying on his father’s business, and Gordon. |
