Sir Tom Hunter says he sees a bright future for New Cumnock

Billionaire entreprenuer and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter is a regular visitor to his home village to see old friends - when he is not jetting round the world setting up his latest business deal, or running his Hunter Foundation charity.

In an exclusive interview with the Cumnock Chronicle Sir Tom, now 62, outlined how he believes the area can overcome its past and predicted population decline and enjoy a new era of prosperity.

He revealed how he has been working alongside King Charles to bring fresh investment and help revitalise that part of East Ayrshire decimated by mine closures 40 years ago.

Sir Tom believes one way of reversing the decline is to encourage more people to settle there and to exploit its tourism and visitor potential.

He also wants more to be done to encourage local entrepreneurs, rather than spending large sums of money trying to attract big companies to the area.

Sir Tom said: "I wasn't aware that such a decline was being predicted, but I was aware of a demographic timebomb in Scotland, with an ageing population.

"That is a wee bit worrying.

Sir Tom Hunter grew up in New Cumnock and started out in business selling trainers from the back of a van. (Image: Colin Mearns)

"When I was young, New Cumnock was pretty much all about the mines. The vast majority of male employment was down the pit.

"When that closed it basically ripped the heart out of the community."

Sir Tom Hunter started his first business selling trainers from the back of a van after graduating from Strathclyde University in the early 1980s.

He went on to build Sports Division, which became Europe’s largest independent sports retailer, and which he sold in 1998 for £290 million.

Sir Tom has provided funding for New Cumnock over the years through his Hunter Foundation, including money for its famous outdoor swimming pool to be refurbished and reopened.

"That has been a great success," he said.

"We also helped King Charles put money into the village hall through his Prince's Trust to make it more of a community asset and bring it back into working order.

"I really have to take my hat off to King Charles and what he has done here, particularly with Dumfries House.

"The outdoor pool, which was threatened with closure, now attracts people from all over and has been a real success.

Sir Tom Hunter provided cash to help bring New Cumnock's outdoor swimming pool back to life. (Image: Newsquest)

"There is also more can we do to help visitors spend their money in the local community and keep them there that bit longer. "

Sir Tom added: "We have a number of successful businesses already in New Cumnock, like the Lochside Hotel.

"What needs to be done is is more things like that.

"There is no point in saying that we think we can attract certain business and paying them a lot of money to be there.

"That is not sustainable economic growth, in my book."

Sir Tom has also provided backing for Glenafton Athletic over the years, and helped finance the refurbishment of the club's Hunter Pavilion.

He added: "New Cumnock, for me, is a nice place to live, and within easy commuting distance of Ayr, Kilmarnock, and Glasgow.

"I know some local entrepreneurs have been putting up some nice houses locally and they all seem to be sold.

"You have plenty of lovely walks and outdoor pursuits.

"The area also has a great Burns heritage."

Sir Tom's late father Campbell, who ran a grocer's store in New Cumnock, was president of the village Burns club which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year.

Sir Tom has also been working recently with the New Cumnock Development Trust to help promote the town.

Sir Tom says Dumfries House has played a huge role in regenerating the community in Cumnock and the surrounding area. (Image: Kevin Oates)

"They are doing a very good job," he said, "because it is local people understanding what is needed and getting it done.

"There has been a big population decline in New Cumnock since I was here, because there are no pits any more.

"The world of work has changed. It is no longer confined to nine to five working, seven days a week for many people.

"Thanks to technology, workers can chose where to live and work from, and that is a big advantage for places like New Cumnock.

"It is a reasonably priced place to live, and a good place to live."

Sir Tom, who went to school at Cumnock Academy, says he is impressed with the standard of local schools, which he believes can be a big factor in attracting families.

His Foundation has also funded prizes for local nurseries and primaries.

He added: "When I go up to New Cumnock now, I see the houses being built, I see them all being sold.

"There is a housing shortage in Scotland, so places like New Cumnock are going to be more attractive.

"It has taken a long time for the area to reinvent itself, but there is a spark of something there now."

The New Cumnock Development Trust is working hard to regenerate the village through projects such as the refurbishment of the former Trotters building. (Image: Contributed)

Sir Tom also is not the only example of someone from New Cumnock doing well over the years

When he went to Buckingham Palace with his family in 2005 to receive his knighthood, one of the footmen who greeted them was from the village, and recognised his dad.

Sir Tom chuckled: "That made his day more than me getting the knighthood."