Well-known Orkney farmer, and North Country Cheviot sheep breeder, James Johnston Wishart, passed away peacefully at home with his wife Elsie beside him on December 31, 2015.

He was born on April 21, at Howaback, Sandwick and was educated at Dounby School. On leaving school, he went to work on the farm of New Moan, Harray, with the Isbister family.

Whilst there he started courting Elsie Sinclair, from the neighbouring farm of Newbigging and they married in 1963, taking over the farm from Elsie's parents in 1966 when they changed from dairy to beef and sheep.

Over the years, James both extended and modernised the steading, doing most of the work himself.

By renting grazings from other farms in Harray, he and Elsie increased the stock numbers and as a skilled stockman, he regularly topped the both the local sales and those at Thainstone with store and prime cattle.

The breeding and showing of North Country Cheviot were, however, his great interest. He established his Newbigging flock in 1963 with a few select ewes from Fiddlerhouse, Sandwick and Field of Noss, Wick - both top flocks on each side of the Pentland Firth at that time.

Over the years, Newbigging Cheviots won many prizes at local shows, with 11 championships at the Orkney County, including two inter-breed titles. James also showed sheep at the Highland Show and was always in the prizes.

He was also proud of his two championship wins at the main breed sale in Caithness, selling rams to £4600 and was in demand as a judge of the breed, officiating at the Royal Highland Show, Black Isle, Caithness and many smaller shows in the north.

Latterly, James and Elsie, started a small Texel flock and joined the Highland area Texel Club. They particularly enjoyed the club tips and flock visits all over the UK and Ireland.

He was also a past president of the Dounby Show and, during his term of office, the show park was extended and its facilities improved.

He had a ready wit and was a fund of stories, many relating to his trips to the Highland Show and Caithness sheep sales.

His well attended funeral was held at he Milestone Church, in Dounby and followed by internment in Harray cemetery. A collection raised nearly £800 for Macmillan Orkney.