Gray & Adams’ founder Jim Gray died peacefully in his sleep on 10 February 2021, aged 86.
Gray formed Gray’s Motor Body Works in 1957 after leaving national service, as a car and body repair facility in Fraserburgh, near Aberdeen.
In 1960, Gray was joined by Jim Adams and the company became Gray & Adams.
The company diversified into bodybuilding - building flatbeds and mobile shops, before developing its first insulated bodies on rigids and trailers.
The business developed further after the introduction of the ThermoKing forced air refrigeration unit from America in 1962.
In 1966, it moved to its current head office in South Road in Fraserburgh.
By the 1970s Gray & Adams was building trailers for a range of clients including Christian Salveson, British Home Stores and Marks & Spencer.
Read more
- Gray & Adams given Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation
- D Steven & Son marks centenary with Gray & Adams trailer kitted with Transicold Vector HE 19 MT refrigeration unit
- Waitrose adds to Gray & Adams fleet after 7% fuel savings
In 1976, following the introduction of ATP, Jim Gray travelled across Europe to look at the best manufacturing practices and materials which would meet his vision.
His mantra was said to be: “Quality cannot be added on - it must be built in.”
In 1978, after exhaustive research, Gray and his team created their own 40-foot refrigerated chassis-less trailer using techniques which involved a one-piece structural panel still familiar to Gray & Adams’ customers today.
The company continued to expand, opening factories in Dunfermline in 1976, Northern Ireland in 1981 and Doncaster in 1990.
Big Jim, as he was fondly known, remained fiercely loyal to his Fraserburgh roots and was well known for his philanthropy.
He is also remembered as having a special bond with his Fraserburgh workers and a deep commitment to the business remaining in Fraserburgh.
Gray also inspired other family members to follow in his footsteps, including three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He leaves behind two sons, James and Peter, and a daughter, Marie.
