Dave Stevenson

David Deas Stevenson CBE DL (born 28 November 1941) is a Scottish former athlete. He competed for Great Britain in the men's pole vault at the 1964 Summer Olympics, where he placed 20th.[2] He was also a successful businessman, serving as managing director of Edinburgh Woollen Mill from 1970 to 1997.

David Stevenson
Personal information
Full nameDavid Deas Stevenson [1]
NationalityBritish
Born (1941-11-28) 28 November 1941
Hawick, Scotland
Sport
CountryGreat Britain
Scotland
SportAthletics
Event(s)Pole vault

Athletics career

In addition to the Olympics (where he cleared three heights with no fails but could not achieve the qualifying mark for the final, 4.60m, from his three attempts), Stevenson also took part in the Commonwealth Games in 1962 (10th place), 1966 (4th place, matching the height of the bronze medallist) and 1970 (9th place).[1]

At local level, he won the Scottish Athletics Championships eight years out of nine between 1962 and 1970,[3] claimed the gold medal at the 1965 AAA Indoor Championships (plus four silvers from other years),[4] and two bronze at the AAA Championships.[5] While at university, he had also challenged for the Scottish title in the long jump and triple jump.[6]

Business and personal life

Raised in Langholm, Dumfriesshire and a graduate of the University of Edinburgh Business School in 1962,[7] he joined the textiles firm founded by his father Andrew in the 1930s[8] and successfully expanded it as the Edinburgh Woollen Mill clothing retail company, with a catalyst for growth coming from the supply of the Scotland team's tartan uniforms at their 'home' 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, at which he was also a competing athlete.[7] The company absorbed several others across Scotland to diversify its product line,[8] and had almost 200 stores before being sold in 1997 for £69 million.[7] He retained an interest in business with the Ashleybank Investments company which had shares in Schuh and Dobbies among others,[7] and also set up a charitable organisation, the Stevenson Foundation, sponsoring local sports clubs and other civic causes.[9] The Woollen Mill (in reality Stevenson's close family) owned several racehorses, with Gordon W. Richards as trainer,[10][8] while Ian Stark, Scottish Olympic medallist in Eventing, has credited Stevenson for his long-term support.[11][12]

He was made a Commander of the British Empire in the 1988 New Year Honours. In 2012, Stevenson was made an Honorary Freeman of Dumfries and Galloway for "his involvement in bringing national recognition to the town [of Langholm], his generosity of spirit, and the time he has devoted to his local community".[9] He was a baton-bearer for the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow. At that time he was also Deputy Lord-Lieutenant for Dumfries.[13]

His wife Alix Jamieson was a fellow competitor in the 1964 Olympics in the long jump event;[7] they have two children and four grandchildren.[9] His brother Neil was a top-level rugby union player with Langholm RFC in the era before professionalism in the sport, also working in the family business.[8][14]

References
  1. David Deas Stevenson, The Commonwealth Games Federation
  2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Dave Stevenson Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  3. Scottish Championships, GBRathletics
  4. AAA Indoor Championships (Men), GBRathletics
  5. AAA Championships (Men), GBRathletics
  6. University Track and Field: 1960 – ’64, Anent Scottish Running, 1 December 2017
  7. Reaching New Heights, University of Edinburgh Business School
  8. Jumpers are winners for David Stevenson, The Glasgow Herald, 23 May 1989
  9. Date set for David Stevenson Freeman honour, Daily Record, 31 August 2012
  10. The Boss: The Life and Times of Horseracing Legend Gordon W. Richards, John Budden; Random House, 2012; ISBN 9781780577753
  11. Meet the...XC Course Designer, Bramham Horse Trials
  12. Olympian Ian Stark is Scotland's main eventer, Scottish Field, 6 December 2019
  13. An all too common feeling for David, Daily Record, 4 April 2014
  14. Obituary: Neil Stevenson, accomplished rugby player who ran dyeworks and Edinburgh Woollen Mill, The Scotsman, 20 December 2018
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