North east grandmother and well-known Aberdeenshire cattle breeder, Liz McCombie, whose life was prolonged by a kidney transplant in 2001, has died age 88.
The pioneering operation more than two decades ago came with the promise of “10 more years” for the popular farming community stalwart. However, she far exceeded that and remained at the fore of Highland Show activity.
Farming fascination
Born in Wick on October 16 1934 Elizabeth was the daughter of doctor Robert McCrae, and his wife, Rhoda.
Elizabeth – better known as Liz – had her interest in farming sparked by spending time with her mother’s family who owned the Wick auction mart. There she spent much of her free time helping her uncle, Ben Sinclair.
From Wick High School she went to Aberdeen University, graduating with a BSc in agriculture in 1956. While on practical placement at Little Daugh Farm, Ruthven, close to the McCombie family farm, Auchincrieve, she met her husband, Charles.
For almost the first decade of their marriage they lived at Guise of Tough, Alford, before moving to Auchincrieve on the death of Charles’ father, Captain Charles McCombie, in 1966.
Cattle and ponies
Throughout her life Liz took a keen interest in the family’s farming enterprise. She was hands-on lambing shepherd at Auchincrieve for more than 35 years and purchased the Aberdeen-Angus heifer, Ashley Edwina, in the 1990s.
This proved the the turning point in the re-establishment of the dwindling Auchincrieve Aberdeen-Angus herd which has since enjoyed considerable success in the show ring and at the Perth/Stirling bull sales. Blood-lines from Edwina are still in the herd today.
She also had an abiding interest in the breeding and showing of Highland ponies. In recent times she bred Gersa of Auchincrieve, mother of Cairns Fergus, who has qualified for the working pony category at the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) at Olympia for the last nine years.
She placed fourth last year, and the only Highland pony ever to have qualified for this category at the show.
The last foal bred by Liz, Douglas of Auchincrieve, is now at three years of age a registered stallion with the Highland Pony Society. With a string of show successes, including champion Mountain and Moorland at the Garstang and Aintree shows last year, its successes brought Liz great pleasure.
Kidney transplant
When Liz was 66, after 14 years of kidney failure due to rare disorder called Wegener’s granulomatosis, she received the good news that she was to have a transplant.
Her operation took place at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary during a time when donated organs were at short supply – but in high demand – in Aberdeen.
She spoke to the Evening Express at the time. “I’m very lucky because there’s a dearth of organs. It’s very difficult for Aberdeen to get hold of them.”
Until the transplant she managed her condition with medication. For three years she also had to drive an hour each way to Elgin, three times a week, for dialysis.
The call came to say there was a kidney for her came at 2am on Sunday, April 22, 2001.
“I said ‘you must be joking’. I really was quite taken aback,” she said at the time.
Community interests
A larger-than-life personality, Liz was also a passionate owner of West Highland terriers. A keen gardener, excellent cook and home-maker she also turned her hand to many artistic skills. Knitting, watercolour painting, spinning and upholstery were among those interests.
She was involved in many charitable and fundraising events. In her younger years Liz was founding chair of the Huntly Flower Club which ran for over half a century.
Liz was also district commissioner of the Deveron and District branch of the Pony Club in the 1990s, hosting a pony club camp at Auchincrieve in 1995.
Cairnhill
Following the death of her husband in 2005, she was appointed an honorary vice-president of the North-east Aberdeen-Angus Club. She was also a former director of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society, organisers of the Royal Highland Show.
When her husband’s health began to fail they moved to the neighbouring farm of Cairnhill in 2003. Following his death, she lived there very independently, maintaining a keen interest in farming developments and rural affairs.
Liz died in late January. She is survived by her three children, Charles, who continues to farm at Auchincrieve, Rhoda and Louise, and daughter-in-law, Gillian. She also had four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Conversation