COLIN DALRYMPLE, who died recently, was born at Oxenfoord Castle in 1920, where he progressed to being one of Scotland's foremost pig breeders after a busy army career.

He was the sixth and last child of the Earl and Countess of Stair, and was brought up at Lochinch, in Wigtownshire, where he unfortunately contracted polio, aged 8 – an infection that severely affected his life thereafter.

Educated at Eton, he then went on to Cambridge to study economics and agriculture. In 1939, his education came to an end with the outbreak of WW2, when he was called up to serve in the Scots Guards.

Despite his disability, he served throughout the war, latterly from 1943-1945 in a difficult Italian campaign. After the Armistice, he continued his army career, serving in both Italy and the Middle East, leaving the army in 1956 to come home and pursue a career as a farmer.

He met and married Fiona Edwards in 1956 and took over Oxenfoord Mains, Airfield and Southfield farms on the borders of Mid- and East Lothian. There, he farmed for more than 50 years, helping his wife, Fiona, showing and selling stock from their well-known herd of Large White prize-winning pigs.

Colin became involved with the NFU, SLF and, eventually, Midlothian Council. He was president of the Scottish Land Owners Federation for five years, served on the national council of the NFU, and was one of only four independent councillors on Midlothian Council, fighting his corner with 30 labour councillors.

He was also former vice-president of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.

After a busy farming life, Colin and Fiona retired to Humbie, overlooking the Forth of Forth to Fife, celebrating their diamond wedding in 2016. Colin is survived by Fiona, three daughters, one son and nine grandchildren.

JPC