John (Jock) Welsh

The sad passing of one of the Scotland's most accomplished and treasured sheepdog handlers is a huge loss to his friends, family, and the wider sheep farming sector throughout the whole of the UK.

John Welsh, or Jock Welsh as he was better known to all, was born in 1942 and brought up in the family home at Barholm within the Parish of Kirkmabreck near Creetown. One of a fairly large family, he boasted no fewer than five brothers and four sisters all of whom were/are renowned for their work ethic and ability.

With their father's deteriorating health at a relatively young age, the family moved on several occasions, and first in 1948 to Arnimean, Barrhill, where eldest brother, Anton, had taken on the 'herding.

They moved again in 1953, when Anton took on another 'herding at Clauchreid, Creetown, where Jock learned to catch rabbits and get up to general devilment. He attended Carsluith Primary and went on to Creetown High School – where Jock would take regular 'Study leave' for a day's dipping, clipping or some other sheep work.

A keen footballer, he was awarded a bar of chocolate from the headmaster for his success at Stewartry football, when at the age of 13, his parents retired into Creetown and he and his family left Clauchreid.

Such were his footballing skills that he was selected to go for trials with Dundee and Kilmarnock, however after discussing the situation at home, it was soon decided that a steady job with tackety boots would be a better option for him than football boots.

He never held a grudge and instead started his working life, following in his father's footsteps as a young shepherd 'herding Blackface sheep. His first job was at Knockycoid, Barrhill, with the Hyslop family and it was here where he relished tramping the hills with his dogs shifting sheep.

His first dog was Hope, bought for the price of a distemper jag and it was Hope that he first dabbled with in the world of sheepdog trialling.

Working days were long and steady but Jock always made time for his hobbies. In winter, he played carpet bowls and in the summer months he played football for the local team Barrhill ' The Strawberry Boys’. Going on to play at a higher level, Jock played for Dalrymple and the Vale of Girvan football teams.

Throughout the winter, there were dances in the local hall, one of which held a fancy dress competition. The Knockycoid entry saw the workforce dressed as 'The Broons' with Jock dressed up as 'Maggie' – his hill walking legs adorned in nylon stockings and high heels! – And, they won!

It was at one of these dances that Jock met his wife to be, Christine. Both loved to dance and through the winter months every Saturday night danced to The Cherokees band in the McMillan Hall in Newton Stewart. They got engaged in 1963 and married in October 1964.

They began married life in a static caravan still under the employment of the Hyslop family at Darniemow, New Luce. With the promise of a new house, Jock and Christine worked and lived through a horrendous winter of snow and wild weather but with no sign of the promised new build, they moved back to Knockycoid, where their first son, Billy was born in December 1965.

Soon after, Jock took on the manager’s position at Eldrick Farm Barrhill, where Glen and Frazer came along and completed the family.

They moved back to Darniemow in 1974 when a house had been built for the family, where Jock still 'herded sheep, until 1980, when the family moved to Little Laight at Cairnryan to be nearer to the school and amenities of Stranraer.

In 1984, the family of three moved to Culdoch, Straiton to herd at Largs farm with Billy and Glen having left home while Frazer was still at school.

It was sad day when Coldoch was sold, as while Jock was happy to move, Straiton was where he felt at home. This was also the first time Jock had been unemployed, but they moved into the farm cottage at Altizourie, and it wasn't long before the Gingles, from Northern Ireland acquired Kilwhannel Farm at Ballantrae and asked Jock to take up the position of manager.

Jock and Christine spent 15 happy years at Kilwhannel, under the Gingles family, to whom he was eternally grateful. During this time, he accrued three daughters in laws, Helen, Jan and Marie, and become a 'Papa' to seven grand-kids… John, Wullie, Jack, Ben, Cobi, Mitchell and Jock.

In 2004 Jock and Christine moved to Dalrymple where he started working the rented land at Enterkine near Annbank, while also overseeing Kilwhannel for a number of years.

He slowly moved into retirement and over the next 15 years Jock saw two of his eldest grand-children, John and Wullie marry Erin and Margaret, and start the next generation gifting him with five great-grandchildren.

Jock became a man of many hats and outfits! His days could be spent in the fields, with his friend Hewie at Garpin, Crosshill with his dungarees on, kicking out the hay, on the wee tractor, or, the two of them training young dogs.

Another day Jock could be found him with his tartan bunnet on, herding boots and collie dog, gathering ewes on the hills up Loch Doon with Billy – his teaching cap on at his weekly Sheep Dog Training classes.

He would also travel throughout the west of Scotland adorning a high-vis vest helping Frazer fit the pumps at fuel stations in Newton Stewart, Girvan, Stevenston, Arran and Montrose.

Jock had many hobbies throughout his life. He enjoyed and was very successful at carpet bowls, football and curling at which he won many major trophies at club and open level.

His success at sheep dog trialling goes before him. He was Scottish National Champion in 1987 with Jen and again in 2019 with Sam. He also qualified to represent his country on no fewer than 21 times in the team, three times with double dogs, making his final appearance for Team Scotland in 2021.

Always proud to call himself a Shepherd he won the Scottish National Shepherds' Trophy seven times, and more impressively, with five different dogs.

Although he never fulfilled his dream of landing the 'big one', Jock took part in the supreme championship 13 times. He was placed third with Jen at Woburn in 1987, and was top Scot coming sixth, at the first world trial, at Bala, with his dog Moel Jock. He has also judged extensively at home and abroad both at National and International level.

The International was the highlight of Jock's year – whether he qualified or not – it was holiday time! He would never leave home with an empty seat and filled the car with company who could no longer drive the distance.

In latter years when driving a distance to Internationals became too much for him another good friend (of which he had many) donned his chauffeur’s cap and filled the breach.

Many a handler had their nerves settled with a wee dram or a cup of tea at Jock’s bar before or after their run. He was such a sociable guy who loved the banter and the craic with his like-minded pals at such social gatherings.

Time at home throughout their 58 years of married life was spent often surrounded by kids… School holidays were shared with not only their own children but with nephews, nieces, cousins, grand-children and latterly great grand-children….. Harvey, Archie, Skye, Robyn and Blair were a great source of delight for Jock and Christine and stickers can still be found around the house after their visits to Papa Jock’s and Nana Teenie’s….. The Team.

In December 2019, Jock received his life changing diagnosis of having myeloma and things changed more dramatically when covid hit in 2020. He was most grateful for the visits from sons at windows, grand-children sending videos, and the many messages and love via technology, during that time.

However, such was Jock's determination and love of his hobbies at this time, that he qualified at the Thurso National in 2021 for the International at Bala where the Princess Royal watched and spoke to him after his run. His modesty never allowed him to discuss it, but he would allow Christine to talk about it! Jock had friends from Princesses to paupers ….

Jock was extremely proud of his boys, fiercely competitive and very kind, and, he was always the same. He worked hard and played hard. He was also a huge inspiration to many.

It was his determination, stubbornness, in fact, sheer bloody mindedness that saw him and his family through some tough days in the end.