Brian Wilton
As a keen 'amateur' historian and marketing specialist Brian Wilton first got involved with tartans through the old Scottish Tartans Society in Comrie in 1987. As Honorary Secretary he attempted to introduce democracy into the Chairman's Machiavellian management style whereupon his post of Honorary Secretary was abolished 'at a stroke.'
As a result of further chaos within the society and its gradual break-up over the years, the Scottish Tartans Authority (STA) was formed in 1995 by leading industry figures and academics. Brian offered his marketing and business consultancy services on a voluntary basis which developed into fee-earning work and ended up with an offer from the Authority of full-time involvement.
From then, Brian has established the STA as a major trade and promotional body which balances the interests of historians and industry. He has built the industry-standard tartan database, amassed the largest collection of woven tartan samples and attracted various bequests of historical artefacts and records in the STA's HQ in Crieff, Perthshire.
Despite his punishing workload (there are no staff), Brian's great distraction is research and he is never happier than when casting off the reins of administration and getting his teeth into a meaty project.