North Country Cheviot sheep have lost one of their most enthusiastic breeders with the passing of Ruairidh Mackenzie, recently.

Ruairidh was born in June, 1949, followed by sister, Morag, four years later. Their parents, Alasdair and Annie Mackenzie, farmed at Heathmount, Tain, and after education at Tain Academy and Craibstone Agricultural College, Ruairidh returned home to Heathmount which had become renowned for the production of top-quality Lairg-type North Country Cheviot sheep and beef cattle.

Indeed, for many years the lambs, cast ewes and tups were consistently among the very top averages at Lairg – no mean achievement in such a competitive arena!

Ruairidh enjoyed meeting people and, like his father who had served a term as a Member of Parliament, was extremely public-spirited and community-minded.

He became president of the North Country Cheviot Sheep Society, was a regional representative on the Wool Marketing Board for many years, a Chieftain of Tain Highland Gathering and was active on the Sutherland Agricultural Show committee.

A well-known and respected judge, he fulfilled many judging commitments, including adjudicating at the Royal Highland Show and was also an active member of Tain Free Church.

A staunch supporter of the auction system, he was extremely proud to serve on the boards of Macdonald, Fraser and Co and Hamilton’s and UA Partnership, in Thurso.

In all his duties, his likeable nature, sense of humour and notorious infectious laugh enlivened the proceedings and shortened the day.

But Ruairidh was first and foremost a family man. He married his sweetheart, Lyn Oliver, in 1981, They were blessed with two daughters, Kirsty and Mairi. Ruairidh doted on his 'girls' and revelled in the fun of family holidays.

Sadly, Ruairidh’s mother Annie and stepson, Moylan, died in 2005, and Lyn passed away in 2006 after a heroic battle with cancer. Ruairidh then threw his threw his energies into fundraising for Macmillan Nurses, chairing a committee which raised thousands of pounds following a most successful sale in Dingwall Mart.

Some happiness returned when Kirsty married Grant Maclennan and Mairi married Mark Stromberg. Three grandchildren duly arrived – Kenny (2012) and Evie Maclennan (2016); and Jack Stromberg (2014). Ruairidh was a granda 'par excellence' and delighted in escorting his young charges in pursuit of his beloved ice-cream, much to the amusement of all concerned!

But declining health took its toll and Ruairidh latterly became housebound, cared for by daughter, Mairi. He was immensely proud of both daughters and the fact that the Heathmount Cheviot prefix lived on at Ardmore, Edderton, under Kirsty’s able management.

A large congregation paid their respects at the service in Tain. Alasdair Rhind, in his fine tribute, described Ruairidh as 'a very dear and special friend – one of a kind, a true Highland Gentleman, a larger than life character – but a man that had time for one and all, that brought so much laughter into any company.'