TOM GRAHAM, the former MacRobert Trust farm manager who made a huge contribution to both North-east agriculture and his local community, has died at the age of 88.

Shetland-born Mr Graham was appointed manager of the trust's Douneside farms at Tarland in 1972 after a period as general manager of farmers' co-operative, North Eastern Farmers Ltd, which traded throughout the North and North-east of Scotland.

Mr Graham was responsible for the famous Douneside pedigree herds of Aberdeen-Angus, Highland and Friesian cattle, as well as a large arable farming enterprise, and continued as manager until his retirement, supervising the trust's move out of in-hand farming and into the letting out of farms on the estate.

His many public appointments over the years included president of the Marr branch of NFU Scotland, honorary president of Tarland Show, director of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society, chairman of the North East Aberdeen-Angus Club, convener of the Scottish Agricultural College consultative panel, member of the Scottish panel of arbitrators and board member of the Highlands and Islands Development Board where, with his Shetland background, he took a particular interest in crofting matters.

Mr Graham graduated BSc Agri from Edinburgh University and also studied for a master's degree in grassland management at Michigan State University in the USA. He initially worked as an adviser with the old North of Scotland College of Agriculture, including a period in Skye, before being appointed technical adviser with NEF where he subsequently became general manager.

He took an active part in his local community as chairman of Tarland Welfare Committee and Tarland Community Council, elder of Cromar Church, president of Aboyne and Upper Deeside Rotary Club and later a member of both Banchory Rotary Club and Banchory Probus Club.

He revelled in the social life at Inchmarlo Continuing Care and Retirement Community at Banchory, where he lived latterly with his wife, Sheila, and is survived by his wife, sons, Alastair and Michael, and daughter, Lorna.