Obituary: Sir Andrew Hugh Smith, chairman of the LSE and of Ardtornish Estate Company, on Mull Born: 6 September, 1931, in London. Died: 3 October, 2012, in Buckinghamshire, aged 81. Sir Andrew Hugh Smith had a distinguished career in the City of London, serving as chairman of the Stock Exchange during the crucial years that followed the Big Bang reforms that completely changed the working practices for stockbrokers throughout the UK. Despite reservations from the members the procedure was introduced on time and under budget. Sir Andrew was senior partner of Capel-Cure Myers, a firm he expanded and prepared successfully for the very different conditions of the new financial era. Sir Andrew is best known in Scotland for the unstinting work he did for his beloved Ardtornish Estate Company on the Sound of Mull. His forebears had bought the estate in 1930 and had carefully developed the 35,000 acres into a working estate with superb fishing, shooting and stalking - sports at which Sir Andrew himself excelled. He laid down the plans for this expansion when he was chairman of the estate, insisting that the island's unique character be safeguarded. Allan Kennedy, a senior executive of the estate, told The Scotsman yesterday: "Andrew had a prominent and highly respected career in business and a deep love of Ardtornish. He gave unstintingly of his time, experience and contacts, and in chairing the estate company board for more than 30 years, guided and mentored managers and less experienced fellow-directors into creating a successful, and - most unusually - profitable, West Highland estate. Andrew Colin Hugh Smith was the son of a naval officer but the family had long connections in the City, many of his forebears rising to important financial positions, including a governor of the Bank of England. During the war Sir Andrew was evacuated to Mull and attended Claggan primary school at Ardtornish before, in peace-time, attending Ampleforth. That time on Mull gave him a lifelong passion for the island, its countryside and its people. Sir Andrew did his national service with the Royal Horse Guards in 1950 and served in Germany, before going up to Trinity College, Cambridge, to read history and law. He was then called to the Bar but after four years joined the industrial giant Courtaulds in 1960. Eight years later he joined Capel-Cure Myers and spear-headed its rapid expansion through many judicious mergers. In many ways Sir Andrew represented the traditional City stockbroker: immensely charming, courteous and a firm believer in "my word is my bond." But he displayed a shrewd financial awareness that the City had to change and embrace the new forms of technology which would make research, dealing and even the settlement of bargains change dramatically. Sir Andrew joined the Council of the Stock Exchange in 1980 and was chairman from 1988. Thus when, in 1984, the Big Bang reforms allowed brokers to be owned by outside bodies Sir Andrew not only oversaw its introduction throughout the business community in the UK but ensured the future of his own firm by merging it firstly with Grindlays Bank and then ANZ Bank. But his responsibilities down south did not prevent Sir Andrew from maintaining a close interest in the affairs at Ardtornish. He was always keen to develop the renewable energy assets of the estate through hydro-electric generation and lived to hear of their successful operation days before he died. Sir Andrew was keen to further the facilities on the estate for sporting visitors and improve the amenities for family holidays, walkers and ornithologists. He insisted that the age-old sense of community life be enhanced and he furthered close contacts with the residents of the island - many of whom he had known since his school days there. He was a keen gardener at both his house in Buckinghamshire and on Mull. At Ardtornish the extensive gardens were of special interest to Sir Andrew. A forebear had laid out 28 acres of formal landscape garden including lawns, rockeries, walled herbaceous and kitchen gardens and these had been added to with a substantial garden including some fine rhododendrons. Sir Andrew, who was knighted in 1992, sat on many City boards, acting as chairman of the gunmakers Holland & Holland and of Brooks's Club in St James's. He worked on behalf of many charities, notably Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children. Allan Kennedy warmly recalled the grace and charm of his friend. Andrew was valued by his colleagues on the board for his advice and love of the estate. He was immensely liked and respected by all on Mull and especially by the staff here at Ardtornish. He was a really kind and warm-hearted man. He married, in 1964, Venetia Flower, who survives him with their two sons.