RETIRED FARMER and sheep shearing contractor, Sandy Petrie, of South Brachmont, Durris, has died at the age of 84.

Mr Petrie, from a family of six sons and two daughters, was a popular figure who gave a lifetime's service to the farming community. His death marks the end of an era of a family who for 70 years provided a sheep contracting service – clipping, dipping, marking and crutching.

The family carried on the tradition started by their father, John Petrie, who was a shepherd before securing the tenancy of South Brachmont in 1940. The family was also given the tenancy of the West Durris hill which allowed them to have two flocks of Blackface ewes.

During June and July, Mr Petrie had to hand milk the two cows on the farm before leaving with his brothers at 5.00am to provide their hand shearing services to farms from the Angus glens to the heart of Buchan. The brothers had the distinction of shearing a staggering 950 ewes on one a very hot July day in Glen Esk.

Mr Petrie was a generous supporter of Durris Church, where he was a member for 69 years, and is survived by his wife, Morreen, son, John, daughter, Wendy, and two brothers, Joe (86) and James (88).