Stuart Wardlaw, who died recently, was a busy man whether it was producing the best of beef cattle from his farm of Haughhead, near Balerno, or in using his farming knowledge as an expert insurance valuer.

Not content with his busy work schedule, he then filled any spare time with a range of leisure pursuits and community activities in and around Balerno.

He was schooled locally at Kirknewton Primary, followed by a secondary education at East Calder High School. Leaving school, he quickly became immersed in farming at Haughhead, working with his father but he also found time to join the nearest Young Farmers Club in Edinburgh.

There, as often happen with YFCs, he met his future wife, Margaret Templeton. This meeting provided him with a devoted wife and together they celebrated their golden wedding last year. The marriage produced daughter, Anne and son, Alastair – both of whom introduced their father into a whole range of community sports and activities as they grew up.

Stuart’s time in the Young Farmers’ Club revealed skills in judging livestock when he picked up the prestigious Changue Trophy in a national competition. His skills and his interest in this side of farming were honed by his father, Joe, himself a highly regarded and well-respected stockman

Later, after he took over the family farm, Stuart used his knowledge to produce cattle which were much in demand. Haughhead may not have been big in acreage terms, but Stuart ensured that it was well farmed.

Having gained his extensive farming knowledge from his father, Stuart then ensured the next generation of the Wardlaw family, Alastair, had the same benefit when he in turn took over the family farm. Although, he did not live long enough to see the fruits of the latest venture, Stuart did see the farm start a herd of pedigree Charolais cattle.

After being involved with the YFC movement, Stuart joined the local branch of NFU Scotland, where he rose to representing the local area on national committees and his open, knowledgeable and fair assessment of situations saw him become a valuer for the NFU Mutual insurance company.

This job has been described as ‘walking a tightrope’ between the claimant and the company but, over the years, Stuart’s genuineness allowed him to manage this balancing act with an innate sense of fairness and practical knowledge, whether it was valuing machinery damaged in a farm fire or livestock injured in an accident

Away from his work, Stuart had become involved in golf after Alastair took up the sport. He became a stalwart of Harburn Golf Club where he not only enjoyed the company and camaraderie but contributed to the running of the club. His practical experience came to the fore when he was elected convenor in charge of greens and greenkeepers.

From his early days, he was also a piper and apart from belonging to the Colinton and Currie Pipe Band, he was much in demand as a solo piper at Burns Suppers and weddings. Visitors to Haughhead, when an event was in the offing, could often hear Stuart ‘loosen’ up the pipes by playing them while marching up and down the farmyard.

While Stuart and Margaret were busy in the community in their early years, latterly they travelled extensively building up friendships around the world. Their travelling abroad was enjoyed but as ‘home birds’ they greatly enjoyed returning home to the company of friends and family which had now increased by the arrival of three grandchildren.

There is a cliched phrase used about popular men and that is 'he did not have an enemy in the world'. In Stuart’s case, that commendation was most certainly true.