John Gray's Universal Supply Stores and Garage in Bucksburn, Aberdeen.

John R. Gray (1874-1947) was a native of Newhills. A brief obituary for him can be found in the Press & Journal newspaper of 6th January 1947 on page 4.

The obituary states that Gray was residing at 5 Auchmill Road, Bucksburn at the time of his death aged 74.

In business in the area for nearly half a century, he was best known as a garage proprietor. He transported passengers from Bucksburn to Newhills Church and Newhills Convalescent Home.

He was employed in the nearby Stoneywood Paper Works before opening a fruit and confectionary shop. This later became the general merchants, or universal supply store, shown here.

When entering the field of motor-hiring, his first method of transport was motorcycle and sidecar.

Some years before his death he had retired from his business, which was taken over by a son-in-law. He was survived by his wife, Helen Tosh, and a grown-up family. He was buried in Newhills Cemetery.

This photograph looks north towards Gray's premises at 3-9 Auchmill Road. Heading west and north, Auchmill Road divided into Inverurie Road and Oldmeldrum Road to the left of this image.

Gray's home at 5 Auchmill Road would have been part of the shop building shown on the left. These buildings were demolished some time in the later 20th century.

Bucksburn fountain, once the centre of the village, was also sited just to the west on Oldmeldrum Road. The fountain was moved to a nearby pocket park when the road was developed in 1996.

Location

Bucksburn

Keyword

Buildings, Shops

Photographer