MEMBERS of Scotland’s business community gathered to honour one of Renfrewshire’s most respected entrepreneurs following his death at the age of 80.

Peter Ross worked in the family-run tea merchants Wm Wright & Co before branching out on his own to build a business that had interests in retail, aviation, housebuilding and hotels.

Born in 1936, Peter married Elliot in 1962 and the couple moved to East Burnthills, in Lochwinnoch.

He bought a licensed grocers shop and this business interest was to grow into a group taking its name from their first home.

The Burnthills Group moved to the disused Finlayson-Blousfield Mills, in Johnstone, where it developed into Scotland’s most diverse collection of industrial businesses, with companies specialising in contracting, plant hire, shops, demolition, insurance services, media and hotels.

The latter interest was spun out as Norscot Hotels PLC, with properties ranging from Thurso to the Lake District.

A favourite of Peter’s was Stonefield Castle Hotel, at Loch Fyne, which soon became the foundation of a new business group.

The Stonefield Group was created in 1990 after Peter took an interest in Bowfield Country Club, in Howwood.

Peter then built up a mixed chain of hotel and leisure companies, varying from ten-pin bowling to country house hotels.

During his career, he was listed as a director in over 70 companies.

In 1974, he helped found Johnstone Rotary, in which he served as president.

Rotary International honoured him with the Paul Harris Fellowship in 1995.

In 2008, he started to show signs of dementia. He stepped down as group chairman, although he continued as a consultant for a couple of years until deteriorating health forced him give up completely, if reluctantly.

Family and friends nursed Peter at home for as long as possible before he was transferred to the care of Erskine Park, where he died.

Elliot lives on at the Ayrshire home they shared for more than 40 years. She remains able to enjoy the beautiful grounds they restored and looked after together.