Danny Byrne, who spent the last three years as Flame’s development director for Scotland, was responsible for successfully establishing three trade counters in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ayr.

The two men first met back in 1999 when Mr Byrne appointed Mr Savage as manager of the Washington branch of the Wolseley-owned Parts Centre, formerly Heating Replacement Parts & Control (HRPC).

Mr Byrne said: “I gave John his first senior managerial job, something he has obviously never forgotten.”

Mr Byrne became Wolseley’s operations director for UK North, later heard that Mr Savage had been promoted to business development manager at Plumbing Trade Supplies before leaving to found Flame in 2011.

Then, after 26 years with Wolseley, Mr Byrne accepted redundancy in 2016 and quickly received a phone call from Mr Savage, followed by a visit to his home in Perth - where he was offered the job of establishing Flame in Scotland.

Mr Savage said: “I was pleased to mark Danny’s retirement with something I knew he would treasure (An autographed print featuring some of the Celtic’s greatest players). It was he who gave me the chance to become a branch manager and gain the skills and knowledge I needed to eventually set up Flame. When I wanted to establish branches in Scotland, he was the ideal person to make it happen.

“I’d wish him a long and happy retirement and thank him for all he has done both for me personally and for Flame Heating Group.”