Tribute to military man who shaped Corby's housing and industrial estates

Tributes have been paid to James Weir, founder of Corby construction company Jeakins Weir, who has died at the age of 89 after a year-long battle with cancer.

In 1973 Mr Weir enlisted a trusted colleague, John Jeakins, to set up Jeakins Weir Ltd after being approached by the Corby Development Corporation (CDC) to take on a substantial housebuilding contract in the town.

Jeakins Weir were commissioned to build housing and industrial buildings for both CDC and the Commission for New Towns including the Danesholme estate, parts of Corby Old Village and Earlstree Industrial Estate.

Son Alistair Weir, the current Jeakins Weir managing director, said: "I am very sorry to share the sad news that my father, James Weir, passed away on Friday, September 11.

"My father’s death is a tremendous loss to the family - he was a true inspiration and will be greatly missed by all of us.

"Dad lived an enormously meaningful life. He was involved with dozens of different business, sporting, political, educational, military, religious and voluntary groups.

"He touched many lives with his service and support, spanning 80 plus years in Rutland, the East Midlands as well as Scotland, his birthplace."

James Weir was born in Aberdeen and moved to Edinburgh where after school he became an articled pupil in a firm of chartered quantity surveyors in Scotland.

In 1954, Mr Weir was called up for National Service, and was posted to the Royal Engineers at Aldershot, where he revelled in engineering tasks such as building Bailey and Pontoon bridges.

On his return from National Service he took up a position with Wimpey, but was later head-hunted by Laidlaw of Rutherglen, and then joined Mitchell Construction Kinnear Moodie (MCKM), to set up their operations in Scotland.

He rose quickly through the ranks and set up a subsidiary which produced and erected some of the first pre-cast concrete system buildings in central Scotland.

He was in his 40s when he moved to the midlands with his young family to start work on Corby's expansion.

Today Jeakins Weir employs 150 people and the company has built, renovated and extended many hundreds of schools, hospitals, leisure facilities, offices, houses and other public buildings in the East Midlands.

Mr Weir had a long-standing involvement with the Territorial Army. As a young man in Edinburgh, he served in 71 (Scottish) Engineer Regiment, becoming Squadron Commander of 585 Field Squadron. He later commanded 102 (Clyde Field Squadron) in Paisley. When he moved to the Midlands in 1973, Weir was attached to 4 Armoured Division in Germany.

In 1983, Mr Weir began his involvement with the Army Cadet Force. He became County Commandant, in the rank of Colonel, of the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Army Cadet Force.

For his service to the Territorial Army and Army Cadet Force, Col Weir was Awarded the Territorial Army Decoration and clasp, and in 1987 was appointed as an Officer of the Military Division of the most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Alistair Weir added: "My father valued all his relationships, and his work, humility and kindness touched many people’s lives – and his legacy will endure.

"He will be remembered as the consummate gentleman – a generous, hospitable host and loving family man, who delighted in playing golf and kicking a ball with his grandchildren until only months before his death."

Mr Weir is survived by Mary, his wife of 59 years, and his two sons, Jamie and Alistair, and four grandchildren.

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