David Gregory, who, starting from virtually nothing, developed Realstone and Block Stone into one of the five largest dimensional stone groups in the country operating eight quarries, has died. He was 73.

Today, most cities have been involved directly or indirectly with Realstone products and services. The company portfolio includes award-winning projects and some of the most prestigious stone buildings in the country. Just to mention a few: Chatsworth House, Buckingham Palace Gardens, Windsor Castle and of course the impressive re-development of St Pancras International railway station.

When David left Trent College, on the advice of his father, he went straight into work rather than going on to University and the skills he acquired through life were entirely self taught.

David’s business career began in a small stone quarry at Wingerworth, formerly owned by his father. He began, in the words of his children, Andrew and Jill, with a 21lb hammer in his hand. At one time or another he worked at every job in the quarry. He understood the people who worked for him because he had travelled that mile in their shoes.

He developed the business from a small, local building stone supplier into one of the top five stone supply companies in the UK. He was an innovator, introducing new production methods to the industry.

In the early days he identified a niche market for stone fireplaces. Realising the world was not going to beat a path to his door, he travelled the country to sell them in a van equipped as a mobile showroom, decked with samples and an order book. He even slept in the van to save on hotel bills.

Fireplaces were a success, but David, a determined, gritty man, was not content to stop at that. The company went from strength to strength, gradually expanding with the acquisition of other quarries.

Always hard working, after a day in the quarries in Derbyshire David would frequently drive off to Cornwall or up to Scotland in order to retain an oversight of the whole company.

From fireplaces to bridges, civic buildings to commercial offices, as the business grew so did David’s reputation in the industry. In the 1980s he became President of the Stone Federation and travelled to the USA and Pakistan as the representative of the UK industry.

He was a keen sailor and had a large sailing boat based in the Mediterranean. Later he bought a motor cruiser and based it in Gocek, Turkey.

Ever the practical man, he built his first family home, where his children Andrew, Jill and Helen, were born. He also built his second house and even in his retirement home in Skye, where he lived with his wife, Elaine, he enjoyed getting stuck into building work. As well as carrying out extensive alterations and building a garage, he shipped 80 tonnes of stone up from Derbyshire to single-handedly create a beautiful terraced garden.

David always believed life should be lived to the full but with consideration and respect for others – in the family, in the neighbourhood, and the wider community of mankind. As Elaine puts it: “Behind the innocent smile there lived a lovable and caring rogue who was not only a gentle man but also a true gentleman.”

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

We paid our respects and said goodbye to a man we admired and considered a friend.

David Gregory achieved in life what many of us aspire to but few attain.

Not only did he gain the love, respect and admiration of his family but also employees and business associates.

This company he built is a monument to his endeavours. It is our duty to nurture it.

(Sentiments written by an employee of Realstone Ltd)