ONE OF the leading figures in the post-war wholesale meat trade, Robin Young, has died at the age of 94.

For much of his working life Mr Young was based at Friarton, Balbeggie, and received a string of honours for his work developing the lamb supply chain between Scotland and Smithfield market.

He was made a Freeman of the City of London and clothed as a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Butchers in recognition of his political and practical input to the meat trade. During the season, he would typically send between 1500 and 3000 lamb carcases to Smithfield each week.

Mr Young was also heavily involved in co-ordinating the wholesale meat trade after controls were lifted in 1954. At his instigation, the various meat trade federations in Scotland amalgamated to become the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, an organisation which still represents the industry.

As supermarkets began to dominate the meat trade at the expense of London's retail butchers, Mr Young changed tack and began to buy large numbers of store lambs from Shetland and Orkney for resale on the mainland. On one memorable day, he sold 2000 lambs at one Perth sale with his friend, auctioneer Ian Thomson, in the rostrum.

A founder member of the Perth and then the Carse of Gowrie Young Farmers clubs, Mr Young had always been associated with Perthshire, although he was in fact born in Ayrshire. He moved with his family to Balgay, at Inchture, in 1937 and then, after the war, to Friarton.

He was also a former chairman of Perth area of NFU Scotland.

Mr Young's wife, Janey, died 20 years ago and he is survived by his daughter, also Janey, son Robert and their families. A celebration of his life was held at Perth Crematorium on September 22.