John Dykes FRAgS, Mendick Lea, South Slipperfield, West Linton, Peebles-shire, has been elected Chairman Designate of the RHASS.
A life member of the Society, he attended his first Royal Highland Show at Dundee in 1957. After serving as an Area Director on three occasions, he was elected an Ordinary Director representing the Borders Area in 2002. He sits on the Society’s Development and General Purposes Committee and for the last three years has been Chief Steward of Heavy Horses at the Royal Highland Show.
At South Slipperfield, John (65) runs a herd of 150 suckler cows and a flock of 800 ewes. The cattle enterprise includes a 30 cow herd of pedigree Simmentals and on the sheep side, Blackface and Scotch Mule ewes occupy the hill and lower ground with a pedigree flock of Blue-faced Leicesters producing rams for sale at Kelso.
John and his wife Kate also have an interest in breeding Highland ponies. Their son Hamish is involved in the day-to-day management of the farm with other son Iain working for the British Potato Council.
A former director and vice-chairman of auctioneers Lawrie & Symington, he is also a past president of the British Simmental Cattle Society, the Highland Pony Society and the Blackface Sheep Breeders Association.
John said: “ I am honoured to be elected to this position and in particular look forward to developing the Society’s work in forging closer links between the general public and the farming community. Through the marvellous work of RHET we are at the forefront on this and I am sure we can build on that success.
“I would also like to pay tribute to my fellow directors and the staff for their efforts in over-seeing and conducting the affairs of the Society. There are many long hours of unpaid work involved and we must foster and encourage their enthusiasm.”
Under RHASS procedures, John will serve for one year as Chairman Designate and then stand for election as Chairman in July 2008.
14 August 2007
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