Fulton Cuningham Ronald – 23/12/1939-14/11/2018

One of Scotland's best and most respected hill sheep farmers, Fulton Ronald, has died. He was 79

Fulton was born on December 23, 1939 at Gartfairn Farm, Balmaha, to William and May(nee Wyllie) Ronald.

He attended Buchanan Primary School and Balfron High, but such was his passion for livestock and farming that he left school to go home to work milking cows. He also occasionally drove lorries for his father.

In 1962, he and his father took over the tenancy of Derrydarroch Farm in Glen Falloch, where he became very involved in Loch Lomond Young Farmers club and it was at one such dance where he met his wife to be, Isobel May (Mabel).

They married on March 6, 1963 and in 1966 the couple took over the tenancy of the neighbouring farm, Keilator, from Peter Campbell, with his father's encouragement. “If ye never try ye'll never win,” he'd said.

The couple also took on the two shepherds, Hughie and Donald who were good men but would forever say: “We don’t do it like that!"

Keilator was always home for the couple and where they had their four children, Billy, Jim, Heather and Fulton. As well as farming they also did bed and breakfast.

Later in 1981, Fulton bought Benmore Farm running sheep and cattle with shepherd/cattleman, Jimmy Elliot until 2009.

A great supporter of the local community, Fulton's pride and joy was turning out stock, and particularly Blackface sheep, to perfection for both the show and sale ring.

He enjoyed his days at the market and local shows and was extremely proud to have twice won the Blackface championship at Killin Show.

Fulton was also very keen on dogs and always had one or two good working collies with him.

It was always his family he enjoyed most though to include his 11 grand children and two great grand-daughters.

One of life’s real characters he will be sadly missed.