The farming community has lost a stalwart of the British Friesian world as William McKendrick passed away suddenly on June 6, 2014, aged 81.

The McKendrick family began breeding Friesian cattle in 1911 and quickly rose to the top of the breed. Bill was born at Earlseat Farm on the 14th Jan 1933, moving to Cameron Farm, Windygates three years later, where he was to spend much of his life with the renowned Craigends herd.

He left school early to work the farm, and helped to bring out the hugely successful Lavenham Welcome 166th. He was to have their first Highland Show champion with Craigends Piper 2nd in 1953, but Welcome gained supreme honours at both The Royal and Royal Highland shows in 1956, and was still winning at East Kilbride and Perth at the age of 11 yrs. She became the first EX graded cow in the breed improvement scheme and lived to a ripe old age of 18yrs leaving daughters to improve the herd. Craigends bulls also made an impression on the breed, supplying several to AI companies, one being Craigends Galore, who made 5200 gns in 1968.

Bill will be remembered as a determined competitor, but he also loved the social side of shows, and Young Farmers events where he met Maureen Sweet. She was to become his wife on Oct 23,1958, when he branched out to farm at East Pitkerro, Dundee, where he created the Pitkerro herd before returning to Cameron on his father's retirement.

Bill also judged far and wide - he once kept a plane waiting in Cork - probably too much of the social side!

British Friesians were his life. When once asked by the press at the Highland what he thought of the Uruguay talks, he replied: "Only interested in cows and women, and in that order!" Not strictly true, as he also loved his curling. And after leaving Inchture Club at Dundee, Bill played for many years with Largo and Thornton in Fife.

He had three of a family - Linda, Jack and Dorothy, who sadly lost their mother in 1980, but Bill was lucky enough to remarry in March 1984 to Bunty Nimmo, expanding the family with a step-son and a step-daughter.

They retired to Bankhead Farm, Peat Inn in 2003, where Bill kept his interests in cattle breeding by establishing the Arnydie herd of Aberdeen Angus, producing reserve junior champion at the October bull sales 2006.

He is survived by his sisters Margaret in Kirkcaldy and Sheila, married with three children in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland.