Vango founder Alastair Moodie Snr, who has died after a short illness. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

The founder of one of the UK’s top outdoor brands has died after a short illness.

Vango’s parent company AMG Group announced Alastair Moodie Snr passed away peacefully on Sunday.

Mr Moodie founded Vango with his brother Gary in 1966 and was its first managing director. He used an anagram of the company’s home, Govan, to rename its predecessor firm’s title McIlwraith and Co, which he deemed too hard for non-Scots to get their tongue around.

The company said Alastair Moodie Snr was always driven to succeed, be innovative and build the Vango brand while delivering the very best service to his customers and partners.

Mr Moodie retired in 1996, but always remained interested in his ‘baby’, joining the Vango team for its 50th birthday celebrations on Loch Lomond in 2016.

Current managing director Stephen Newlands said: “I highly respected Alastair Moodie on both a professional, and personal basis. He will be sorely missed.

“Although he had retired, he kept up to date with what was going on and was proud of his achievements.

“Our thoughts are with his family and we send them our very best wishes at this difficult time.”

Vango has its roots in a Victorian company, Andrew Mitchell & Co, which developed fabrics for the shipping industry.

In 1966 the Moodie family led Andrew Mitchell to the acquisition of tent maker James McIlwraith, based in the Govan area of Glasgow.

Vango was bought by Black’s & Edgington, owners of Black’s of Greenock and Millets, in 1984. Following a reorganisation, the Moodie family was able to reacquire Vango, Black’s of Greenock and Andrew Mitchell.

In 2014, directors Stephen Newlands, Steve Craig and Glenn Andrews took over ownership of the company, now named AMG Group, in a management buyout, with Sandy Moodie retaining a minority shareholding.

The company said Mr Moodie’s funeral will be a private family affair due to the current Covid-19 restrictions.