Tributes after death of Prestonpans entrepreneur Tom Flockhart

Tom Flockhart passed away following a short battle with cancer, leaving behind his four children Pamela, Stuart, Neil and Lynsey, seven grandchildren and beloved partner Mandy.

As the founder of Capital Document Solutions, Tom was well known and respected in business circles, an accomplished networker and built up Scotland's biggest office equipment supplier, a business worth more than £20 million today.

He also successfully lobbied the Scottish Government to ensure Scottish-based businesses could get on the framework to supply business equipment to Scottish public bodies.

Tom, who was proud of his modest roots, was an adopted child raised in a Prestonpans council home.

Tom Flockhart, pictured as a primary school pupil in the late 1950s

He attended Preston Lodge High School and credited his time there for giving him determination and the drive to build his successful business empire, founded in 1979.

But at the top of his list of priorities was his family, friends, the arts and Scotland.

Tom often enjoyed family holidays with his children and grandchildren in Mull and Kingussie.

The avid fisher and sailor supported the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Edinburgh International Festival, Scottish Opera, and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra over many years.

Lynn Harrison, Tom’s personal assistant for the past 17 years, said: “We are all in shock.

'Passionate and driven'

"To describe him as larger than life doesn’t do him justice. He was passionate, driven and, once you met him, you certainly couldn’t forget him."

Tom showed an entrepreneurial streak from a young age, earning money as a school boy through gardening, paper rounds, fixing up old bikes and even selling sweets and haircuts to children at his school.

Following his departure from Preston Lodge, he went on to complete an apprenticeship at Ferranti and gained an HND in mechanical engineering.

Previously, Tom had said that his apprenticeship had given him the best career advice after his boss advised him to get a job in sales.

In 1970, he took that advice, securing a role with 3M selling photocopiers.

By the age of 30, Tom had been 3M's top copier salesman in the UK for three successive years and decided to go solo.

Using part of the proceeds from a house sale, he set up his own business, initially called Capital Copying Services, in a small office on Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh, and based it on three abiding principles: “the best products, the best advice and the best after-sales service and support”.

Tom Flockhart (seated, centre) with his team shortly after the launch of Capital Copiers in Edinburgh in 1979

Over 43 years, the business expanded from having just three staff members to employing more than 200 people.

The firm's name changed several times to reflect changes in the market but always stayed true to Tom's initial founding principles.

The business he leaves behind is now Scotland's largest independent supplier of office technology, with bases in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness and Lerwick.

He often woke at 5am to drive for a full day of work in Inverness, before driving home to Edinburgh at night, with Lynn adding: "People asked why he didn’t slow down, but that wasn’t him.

"This is what he loved.

"He was working right up until the end, still going over documents and putting in his thoughts and ideas for a Scottish Government tender."

Tom celebrating the 40th anniversary of his company, Capital Document Solutions

The Scottish Procurement Framework Agreement for Office Equipment came into existence in 2009 after extensive lobbying by Tom.

He demonstrated how Scottish-based firms were unable to bid for Scottish public sector contracts, leading to a significant change by the Scottish Government.

In the 1990s, Tom worked with Edinburgh MP Nigel Griffiths to expose a major scam in the copier sector, which led to sweeping finance and leasing reforms.

Lynn said: "Tom was a remarkable man and was dedicated to sharing his knowledge, insights and what he had learned.

"Whether networking with business leaders, going back to Preston Lodge to give talks to pupils, or running training for new salespeople, he was incredibly generous in giving his time and sharing his experiences.

Tom Flockhart, centre, with his children (from left) Neil, Pam, Lynsey and Stuart

“He never held back on that because he wanted people to get on, to have the tools to better themselves. He was never jealous or begrudged other people their success – he really admired people doing well.

"He was an outstanding motivator who helped shape the lives of so many people in so many different ways.

“While we are all feeling his loss profoundly, our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time.”

An email address – 90TFmemories@gmail.com – has been set up for people to share memories and messages of condolences.