TEXEL BREEDERS OBITUARIES

JIM CURRIE
By Jim Warnock

As you travel through life, you occasionally meet real characters who leave a lasting impression on you. Big Jim was just such a person. A big man, with a big heart, whose high standards and generosity were his hallmark.

As immediate past chairman of the Scottish Texel Club he greeted members, old and new, with a firm handshake, a big smile, and the words ‘it’s great to see you’.

The stock of Holstein cows and flock of Texel sheep were his pride and joy, and always brought out to perfection.

Carlinside Farm hosted numerous stock judgings and flock visits, where the family’s hospitality was legendary but Jim’s advice to Young Farmers was always the same ‘Don’t forget the Bum’. We’d all do well to take heed! His greatest thrill was in consecutive years, 1998 and 1999 at the Royal Highland Show, when rams shared with fellow breeder and good friend, John Tough of Easterseat, won Male Champion and Reserve overall and together with the Champion ewe took the Reserve Interbreed award.

His funeral service in Lanark Market was bigger than any Texel Sale, with over 1,000 friends gathered to pay their respects from ‘A the airts’.

Our condolences go to Elizabeth and the family. He was a tremendous ambassador for the breed and an exceptional ambassador for mankind. He will be sorely missed.

DUNCAN GILL
By Bruce Mair

Duncan Gill’s funeral was held at Fortrose – Easter Ross on Wednesday 14th January 2009 following his death after a year long illness, attracting a large attendance of mourners.

Duncan was one of Scotland’s top pedigree sheep breeders, eventually owning three very successful flocks of Suffolk, Texels & Beltex, all of which regularly attracted press headlines.

His Templand Suffolk flock, which was eventually built up to 90 ewes, was founded in 1963. He won the Black Isle Show Championship on no fewer than 27 occasions with his Suffolk’s, a feat unlikely to be surpassed as it is one of Scotland’s Premier shows featuring up to 600 head of sheep!

He also sold Suffolk Ram Lambs at Edinburgh to a top of 6000gns at the Suffolk Society’s Premier Show & Sale.

Duncan joined the Texel Sheep Society in 1992 when he purchased his original females, mainly from the well known Kirtle, Watchknowe and Wollascot flocks, eventually building up to 50 ewes. He was attracted to Texels by their increasing popularity in the terminal sire field and their lower maintenance costs in comparison to the Suffolk’s. His Texel flock quickly rose to the fore with his early successes including a reserve interbred championship at the Black Isle Show, to no lesser a person than the Queen Mother, who exhibited a North Country Cheviot Ram. Duncan’s exhibit was an outstanding “Annan Braveheart” gimmer which he used successfully as an ET donor. Later prominent sales via the Lanark Premier Show and Sale included

Templand Karate Kid – 7,000gns – 2004
Templand Megane – 13,000gns – 2006
Templand Nixon – 6,000gns – 2007

Duncan’s Beltex flock was founded far more recently with the purchase of the then record priced ewe Southholm Carla (3,600gns) which he then used in a constructive ET programme to produce around 20 offspring. Her sons and daughters both sold to 4,500gns.

When Duncan decided to disperse his Beltex flock just prior to his illness at Lanark a year ago, he achieved the outstanding average of £1,200 (22 females) with Carla’s daughters selling to 4,000gns

Duncan’s son Philip has decided to carry on with the Texel flock, with his main sires this year being the outstanding proven rams Clinterty Las Vegas and Mellor Vale Masterpiece.

Duncan was the instigator and former Chairman of the Highland Texel Club and also current Vice Chairman of the North East Club, to which he regularly made 200 mile round trips to impart his constructive advice to younger members. He was also a very sociable character and inevitably the life and soul of any party. Farming and sheep were his life and he certainly proved to be a great ambassador for both Texels and Suffolks.

Mr Gill is survived by his wife Nan, sons Philip and Martin and five Grand Children.