'Like Ye Ken' – A few innocent words, but ones that will be reassuringly familiar with anyone who regularly held conversation with Bertie Cuthbertson who passed away recently – just a few weeks shy of his 85th birthday.

An enthusiastic breeder of Blackface sheep and Galloway cattle, he devoted his life in pursuit of breeding the perfect animal.

Born in 1937 at Kirriereoch in the Monigaff parish, where his father was a shepherd, Bertie attended Rowantree School along with his older sister, Betty. At the age of five the family moved into Ayrshire where his father went to work at Dobbingston Farm. Bertie continued his schooling at Dailly and then on to Girvan High School. Gifted in woodcraft, he had the idea to go on and become a woodwork teacher, however, due to illness, his father asked him to do the lambing for him, and thus, his interest in Blackies and all things shepherding was born and grew into a passion that he devoted his life to.

After leaving school he started work with the Murdoch family at Tairlaw Farm near Straiton, with his parents moving with him to shepherd at neighbouring Ballochbeatties, also owned by the Murdoch family. As well as shepherding the Blackface sheep stock, he was also charged with the task of looking after the renowned Knockdon Galloway herd, and thus, his lifelong passion and interest in the Galloway breed was born.

Indeed, it was a couple of Knockdon heifers purchased privately from the Murdoch family that became the foundation of his own Galloway herd that grew in years to come.

Initially, as a shepherd’s 'perk' and selling under the Mosspark prefix he enjoyed immediate success, when his first bull sold achieved the junior championship and sold to well known breeder John Christie of Lochdochart.

A few years later another bull, Mosspark Fergus sold to the noted Barmark herd for 1500gns – one of the top prices of the day.

In later years, farming under his own right, the herd prefix changed to Craigenbay, and, after a few years building up herd numbers, during the 1980’s and 90’s he sold whole strings of heifers to new breeders in Germany starting up their own herds.

During his time in Ayrshire, he was an active member of the Carrick Young Farmers Club and, at the age of 21, competed for them at the Royal Highland Show in the hand shearing competition, winning the trophy on his first attempt with an unprecedented 93½ points out of a total of 100.

It was at a Young Farmer’s dance that he met his future wife, Isobel Ferguson. A tall handsome man in a sparkly jacket asked her to dance, and their love of dancing and working with sheep and cattle made the night a great success. Upon offering her a lift home, imagine his surprise when she gave him her address as Glenapp Castle, however, setting him straight that she was just a chambermaid there did not deter him and they subsequently got married in 1963.

Moving with his parents to work at Lochenkit near Corsock, he started married life there where their daughter, Jane and son, Charlie were born. After a brief stint back in Ayrshire working for the Simpson family at Blair farm Crosshill, he moved back to the Stewartry to work for the Barbour family at Glenshimmeroch, Dalry. It was here his foray into the world of showing and selling Blackies really began.

Breeding his own Blackies and Galloways was always his dream, so when the opportunity to acquire the tenancy of the forestry smallholding at Craigenbay near New Galloway arose, he grabbed it with both hands.

Bertie was never shy of hard work, working five days a week for the Forestry Commission meant many a late night or weekend, but, ably assisted by Isobel and his family that hard work soon began to pay off in the show and sale rings.

Many a championship trophy adorned the sideboard at Craigenbay for his Blackies, and 1980 was a notable year with a total of 12 cups and trophies for Isobel to keep polished! His most remarkable feat was winning the championship at Glenkens show with a ewe and winning the reserve slot with that same ewe’s own tup lamb, giving much amusement to spectators as, during the championship, all the tup lamb wanted to do was 'go in for a sook'.

Another notable year was 1990 when Bertie was the first recipient to win the newly presented Carsphairn Show Centenary trophy for one of his Blackie ewes, with Isobel having equal trophy success across the road in the hall for her baking prowess.

Success in the sale ring soon followed and one of his proudest moments was selling a tup lamb for £8500 at Newton Stewart tup sale in 1984 – equal top price that day.

After 24 years at the helm of Craigenbay, Bertie and Isobel retired into Dalry village. But retirement was not for Bertie and he took on lambings, gatherings and sheep handling work with Davy Pringle at Marbrack, Hugh and Janet Guthrie at Stroangassel and latterly helping Jimmy Wallace at Fingland with his Blackies and Galloways. Nothing pleased Bertie more than watching the Fingland stock go on to great success in recent years.

Bertie was a sociable man and loved the craic with his peers and fellow breeders, often travelling far and wide with Isobel to attend shows and sales of his favourite breeds.

When asked why they seldom stood together at these events the answer was simple: "we get to talk to as many folk as possible and can then share news and gossip with each other on the long journeys home.”

Bertie was also a master at the craft of dressing Blackface sheep and Galloway cattle and could turn a rough and ready beast straight from the field into a prize winning animal. His assistance was often sought and he could regularly be seen armed with brushes and shears at shows and Galloway sales titivating the entries of those who sought his expertise. All done with the pleasure and pride as if they were his own animals.

A great family man, he loved sharing his wisdom, knowledge and expertise; whether that be advising his son Charlie on tup purchases or assisting and advising his daughter and son-in-law Jane and Bill Landers on the establishment of their Cairnsmore herd of Beef Shorthorns. A new breed to him, but one he soon got the measure of and quickly earned the respect of fellow breeders. He had a great sense of pride watching the herd grow and establish itself as one of the top herds in the country with a whole tranche of accolades to its name.

He loved spending time with his grand-children Kirsty, Bobby and Katie and upon learning of their interest in livestock at a young age, wasted no time in showing them the ropes, watching them all go on to become champion young handlers in the show ring. Getting to meet and know their respective husbands and partners Callum, Kayleigh and Hamish and spending time with his great grand-children Eilidh and Erin was also a source of pleasure for him.

He will be missed by us all.

Charlie Cuthbertson