Scotland has lost one of its best known pure and commercial Blackface sheep breeders, in the sad passing of Andrew (Andy) Hamilton, of Glenmanna, Penpont, Thornhill, Dumfriesshire. He was 84.

Andy, as he was known to all, was born at Cleuchhead Farm, Thornhill. The first son of Hugh and Agnes Hamilton and an elder brother to Robert (Bob) Hamilton, he was educated at Penpont Primary School and then went on to Morton Academy, Thornhill.

A keen stockman from the outset, he attended Thornhill Young Farmers and went on to be chairman of the club where he and the secretary, Evelyn Milligan, Glenmanna, worked so well together, they formed a long lasting relationship that went on for 61years. The couple got married in 1962 and Andy went into partnership with his father-in-law, Forsyth Milligan and later with their two sons, Hugh and Andrew.

Farming some 10 miles up the remote, albeit extremely scenic Scaur Glen, had its challenges with Glenmanna seeing long, hard winters and often deep snow which could be perilous for the farm’s Blackface ewe flock. With hills rising more than 2000ft above sea level, sheep would on occasion have to be dug out of snow drifts in bad winters. But there was nothing to beat the summers at Glenmanna. Andy loved his ‘herding days and when time allowed, fishing in the local Scaur water.

He was also an avid curler and a member of many prize winning teams at local level over the years. One of his most memorable achievements was competing in the Scottish curling tour to Canada in 1983.

A farmer through and through, he was chairman of Dumfries and Stewartry branch of the National Farmers Union in 1988 which in turn saw him cut the red ribbon when he officially opened the new livestock market in Annan in 1989. Sadly, like so many bustling cattle and sheep centres of previous years with falling livestock numbers, it was bought over and is now a supermarket.

It was hill sheep farming that Andy was most passionate about and producing superior quality hill lambs with shape and carcase from his Blackface ewe flock. He was a master at it too, winning many carcase competitions over the years with home-bred pure Blackface wedder lambs.

Such was his enthusiasm and ability to produce top quality lambs, that he was a council member of the Scottish National Fatstock Club since the 1970s, when the Winter Fair was staged in the old Waverley Market, Edinburgh. Andy, along with several other council members of the Fatstock Club, was also involved in setting up the Premier Meat Exhibition Carcase Show, at Scotbeef, with the late Ian Galloway, in the early 1990s.

One of his most privileged appointments was being elected president of the Scottish National Fatstock Club for a three-year term which took in the Club’s Centenary event at Perth Agricultural Centre, in 1995.

Having produced the champion and/or reserve winners at the Winter Fair several times, his supreme pairing has also landed the prestigious James Swan trophy for the champion Mountain and Moorland lambs. His best achievement in 1997, saw him not only win the Mountain and Moorland championship but also the reserve overall champion of champions.

Going one step better than that, the family’s Mountain and Moorland champion winners at the Fatstock Club’s show at Lanark, in 2017, triumphed to win the coveted Thorley Shield – an award that goes round the various sections and that year was presented to the best native-bred lambs.

The family also ventured south to Smithfield with Blackface lambs and regularly produced lead prize winners and in 2004 the coveted Mountain and Moorland honours.

With sons Hugh and Andrew both farming Buccleuch Estates’ farms within 10 miles of one another, and in partnership with Andy, the family would also show Scotch Mule lambs from Marr Farm where Andrew was based.

A well sought after judge, Andy has officiated at the Winter Fair on two occasions and also the Blackface sheep at the Royal Highland Show. One of his most enjoyable judging stints however was selecting the overall champion of champions at Smithfield in 2006.

Andy was equally passionate about the Blackface sheep breed and breeding superior quality animals. He regularly sold some of the most sought after commercial Blackface ewes at the old market at Thornhill, and shearling rams at the breed sale in Newton Stewart.

Such was the demand for Glenmanna shearling rams that in 1997, he not only produced a personal best with a £15,000 sale but also topped the sale.

Another extremely memorable achievement for Andy and the family was when a Glenmanna-bred shearling ram bought at Newton Stewart, went on to win the breed honours and the inter-breed sheep title at the Royal Highland Show in the early 2000’s. The tup, a son of an £11,000 Milnmark, was bought by the Ramsays of Milmark for £5500 who exhibited the ram the following year with huge success, with it also making up half of the inter-breed pair at Ingliston.

With more than 50 years of his life dedicated to breeding some of the best commercial Blackface sheep in the business, Andy was also the recipient of the prestigious Connachan Salver in 2017.

In more recent years, Andy has enjoyed fishing and shooting.

A huge turnout for his memorial service in Penpont Parish Church, Thornhill, saw more than £1000 donated to Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI).

Andy is survived by his wife Evelyn, sons Hugh and Andrew, daughters in law Linda and Carol, and grand-children, Emma and Jill and Kerr, Chloe and Rebekah.