Pat Laird, farmer and former joint master of Fife Foxhounds

Pat Laird, Cairnie, Cupar, has died following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He was educated at Dalhousie and Glenalmond College. He was capped for Scottish schoolboys at rugby and went on to play for Perth Accies and Howe of Fife.

On returning home after national service with the Gunners, Mr Laird joined the family firm of Laird & Smith, grass seed merchants.

He also operated his own farming enterprise. He began growing strawberries on a rented field at Blebo Craigs before buying Cairnie in the late 1960s and later Dalgairn.

He was a director of Perth and Angus Fruit Growers Cooperative and the Scottish Nuclear Stock Association, which propagated new varieties of raspberries.

The purchase of Earlshall Estate, in partnership with brother-in-law Willie Porter, allowed Mr Laird to develop his passion for livestock.

Mr Laird enjoyed fishing, shooting and stalking.

Most of his spare time, however, was taken up with horses, in particular hunting with the Fife Foxhounds where he served as joint master of the hunt with Sir John Gilmour during the 1990s.

Mr Laird is survived by his wife Maggie, daughter Carolyn, son John and six grandchildren.