SOUTH-WEST farmer Fraser Evans, a stalwart of NFU Scotland has died aged 89, just two months after the union celebrated its centenary with an event at Ingliston House.

Mr Evans who had held the presidency of the union back in 1975, was the oldest surviving leader of the organisation.

Fraser was born on the family farm at Alton near the Mull of Galloway, but he spent his youthful years on a model dairy farm near Sheffield after his father moved the family south.

His father had found out that milk prices in that area were higher than they were in the South-west of Scotland.

However, following the outbreak of the Second World War, the family moved back north to Penkiln Farm, Garlieston in 1943. Another reason for the family move was that, with the arrival of the Milk Marketing Board, prices paid to farmers were levelled off regardless of where the milk was produced.

Away from the farm, Fraser enjoyed sailing with Whithorn Sailing Club where along with a young lady called Jane as crew, he proved his competitiveness. That sailing friendship blossomed into marriage and soon after family life when Ian, then Heather and Dougal were born.

It was in 1955 that he joined the local branch of the NFU and by 1962 he was a member on the labour and machinery committee at the union headquarters in Edinburgh. He served for 20 years on that committee and proved to be a firm and fair negotiator.

In 1975, Fraser was elected president of NFU Scotland. In those days there were some 14,000 members across Scotland. In addition to keeping in touch with the union's grass root members, the president had to head up the annual price review negotiations with the government.

These were difficult times for dairymen and Fraser had to address a mass rally of 3000 angry milk producers in Westminster Hall during his leadership.

After his term of office with the union finished, he moved on to become chairman of SAOS, the umbrella body for agricultural co-operatives and a cause very close to his heart. Throughout his life he passionately believed farmers should work together in order to gain the maximum benefit from their efforts.

His range of off-farm commitments grew. He served on the board of the West of Scotland Agricultural College at a time when the experimental dairies were being planned at the Crichton in Dumfries. He spent two terms on the board of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board.

During the second term, the Galloway Creamery in Stranraer was closed and threatened with being dismantled and rebuilt in India. With Fraser in the background a 'gang of five young men' with son Ian one of the group, was established and, against massive odds, the creamery was both saved and brought under local control.

Another most successful venture was the setting up, with Jane, of Galloway Farm Secretarial Services. Over the years they nurtured the business and today it continues to be a huge benefit to the local community.

A devoted family man, he died peacefully with his family beside him.