East End Sawmills - About Us

Born and brought up in Dalmarnock, Robert Frew started his own joinery business in 1951.

Having spent 1942 - 1945 in Malaysia he returned to work as a joiner for several years. He had planned to emigrate to Canada but said to his wife, "If I can't make it in my own Glasgow, I can't make it anywhere". He opened a shop in Dalmarnock road, 'The Home Job Shop'. That became known as 'East End Sawmills' in 1957.

The original contract work that ran alongside supplying timber to the public developed into the conversions of cinemas into bingo halls during the sixties.

In 1970 his eldest son, Robert, joined the company after having completed his studies at University. Over the next year or so the contracting work was stopped so the supply of timber was able to be concentrated on. The industry was changing, specialist knowledge was becoming vitally important. Wood had become a vital resource, more than ever before. Sourcing supplies and increasingly particular needs necessitated a much greater concentration of effort.

Stewart, the second son joined the business in 1977 and brought a new impetus into growing the company. The company went limited in 1979.

The sons continued their fathers work and helped him build and develop new services. Dad retired in '84. Mum worked beside the boys until she herself retired in '98.

Dad still accompanies Stewart on regular foreign trips to supervise and source new supplies of timber from around the world. Even today the wartime experiences in Malaysia are useful as they negotiate and discuss the supplies needed for the growing customer base back home.