ONE of the country's best known stockman, Robert Grierson, is retiring after 42 years service with the Biggar family at Chapelton and Grange Farms, at Haugh of Urr, near Castle Douglas.

For the past 42 years, Robert has been looking after the Chapelton pedigree herds of Beef Shorthorn and Angus cattle at Grange, and bringing them out at all the major shows in the UK to win many top awards, including breed and inter-breed champions at the Royal Highland and the English Royal.

He showed imported Hereford bull Louada Sensation to win the overall individual beef championship at the Royal Show, while his successes at the Perth – now Stirling – Bull sales, include five Shorthorn championships in six years with sons of Chapelton Typhoon and the then record female sale price of 13,000gns. The highlight of his Angus sales was when Chapelton Eventer sold for 23,000gns.

Robert was also an integral part of the team when the herds were rebuilt using imported embryos and old bloodlines re-purchased after the losses of the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

His family, Chapelton staff and the farm vets were among the guests celebrating the presentation of his Long Service medal from the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland at a BBQ held at Grange. Chairman of the RHASS, Jimmy Warnock, made time in his busy schedule to travel down to join the party and make the presentation.