A leading figure in Scottish agriculture, Sandy Brown, Reidhall, Edzell, passed away yesterday at home after a short illness. He was 84.
Born on the small family farm near Fettercairn, one of four brothers, Mr Brown carved out a successful career in the grain trade before turning to farming at Reidhall which he bought in 1981 and later added the nearby farms of Lundie, Newton of Stracathro and Marymill.
He was well-known at marts from Orkney to Hexham as a buyer of high-quality cattle for his large-scale beef finishing business.
Before becoming a full-time farmer, he had acquired, and greatly expanded, the grain drying and storage facility at Stracathro, trading as North Esk Grain and now operated by W. N. Lindsay.
A former chairman of the board of directors of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, organisers of the Royal Highland Show, Mr Brown made a major contribution to the farming industry, both nationally and locally, as a past-president of the Scottish Corn Trade and a past chairman of both Grampian Growers Ltd and Montrose Auction Company.
He also served as president of Fettercairn Show and the Rotary Club of Laurencekirk, and was an elder for 30 years at the joint charge of Stracathro Parish Church and Brechin Cathedral.
Mr Brown is survived by his wife, Christine, two sons, Graham and Steven, daughter, Linda, and three brothers, John, David and Jim.