Arthur Kinmond Bell

Arthur Kinmond Bell, also known as AK Bell, (4 October 1868 – 16 April 1942) was a Scottish distiller, working as a partner of Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd, and as a philanthropist, founding the Gannochy Trust to help support the people of his home city of Perth.

Birth and family life Born on 4 October 1868 at Moncreiffe Terrace, Craigie, Perth, Bell resided within Perth for much of his life. Educated first at Perth Academy, he later moved to Edinburgh continuing his studies at Craigmount School.

In 1899 Bell married Miss Camilla Bruce. The ceremony was conducted in her native city of Edinburgh, but with her in her late 30s at the time of the marriage, a life without children seemed probable. It has been speculated that this contributed to his desire to make a lasting mark, leading to his philanthropy.

Career Bell joined the family business as a partner in 1895, following in the path of his father and grandfather. He quickly made his mark, and along with his brother, Robert, succeeded in doubling the company's profits before his father's death in 1900. At this time Bell, as the eldest son, became managing director, and continued to expand the business despite the setbacks of the Great Depression and Prohibition in the United States, becoming governor director in 1921 when the company became a limited company. This expansion was achieved in large part through the use of advertising and agents, many of whom were members of his extended family living throughout the empire, and included the friendly takeover of three distilleries between 1933 and 1936. By the time of Bell's death in 1942, the company's profits were in excess of £100,000 per annum.

Later in his life, Bell saved the Perth linen industry by financially backing the one remaining company, John Shields and Co. intervening at the request of the Lord Provost Robert Nimmo. The apparent and imminent closure of this company came as a shock to the local council, and the loss of 300 jobs would have been a blow to the city. For his contribution Bell receiving the Freedom of Perth, and the workers of the company presented him with a parchment tribute as a thanks for his part in turning the company into a successful and growing enterprise.

This quotation from Bell's acceptance of the Freedom of Perth sums up his approach to philanthropy, and how as a beneficiary of the then booming Scotch whisky trade, Bell prospered and was able to look to benefit his home city. His first major project in this direction was the building of the Gannochy Housing Estate between 1924 and 1932. This model housing scheme was intended to benefit the hardworking of a younger generation, who had survived the harshness of war and were now looking to better themselves, with many of the original tenancies being granted to workers of Bell & Sons.

Death Arthur Kinmond Bell died unexpectedly of illness on 26 April 1942.