By Ewan Pate, farming editor

A FIFE farming couple yesterday announced that they are to launch a travel scholarship backed by a fund of over £1 million.

When John and Margaret Cameron wound down their extensive farming operations in west Perthshire and Fife in 2006 they said they hoped to use some of the proceeds from the land sales to help young people.

“We have no immediate family and although we wanted to set up a trust we had to think long and hard about how we were to do it and who the beneficiaries should be,” said Mr Cameron.

“Two of the most important influences in my life have been Dollar Academy and the NFUS, and I wanted both to be involved.”

The Cameron Travel Scholarship Trust is to fund travel for agricultural students and pupils of Dollar Academy in equal measure, with travel grants of anything from £1000 to £10,000 depending on the projects submitted.

The board of NFUS is to undertake the initial selection of a short leet of applications from agricultural students before the trustees make the final selection.

“We want the process to be open to all who are studying agriculture, whether they are working at home, doing day or block release, at college or university,” said Mr Cameron.

“They are likely to be under 25, although this is also flexible.

“We would like to emphasise that students who can demonstrate financial difficulty in funding such trips themselves will be favoured.”

There is a similar flexibility as far as destination and length of trip is concerned, but projects should be of benefit to Scottish agriculture.

“Both of us have gained tremendous benefit and experience from travelling,” said Mr Cameron.

“I was lucky to be able to journey abroad when I was young.

“Margaret was brought up in Malawi and has travelled throughout Africa, including regular journeys to school in South Africa.”

“I was involved with the NFUS council for 25 years, including seven years as president and during that time Margaret had to take much of the load of what was an expanding business.

“However, I do sincerely feel we have had more out of farming than we have put in and that is why we wanted to launch the trust.”

NFUS president Jim McLaren, who was present at the launch at the Camerons’ home at Balbuthie, Kilconquhar, and is a trustee of the award, said, “NFUS are delighted to be involved.

“John and Margaret have had a contribution to farming spanning decades and it is very appropriate that this is a trust which will last for a long time with a good annual income. It is an exciting project which will allow young people to look at the wider world and broaden their experience.

John Robertson, also a trustee and rector of Dollar Academy, added, “This will have a huge impact on the school. John Cameron is a former pupil but he has also been chairman of our board of governors for 20 years where he has shown characteristic vision and genius.”

The other trustees, along with Mr and Mrs Cameron, are John Bell, Balneil, Colinsburgh, Finlay Clark, Bidwells, Fort William, Andrew Weatherley, Dunfermline, and David Walker, also from Dunfermline.

It should be said that although Mr Cameron claims to be winding down he and his wife are still farming at Balbuthie and the neighbouring Pitarthie. Two new beef sheds have been erected recently and there is to be a major sheep event held on the farm at the end of June.

It is not quite a conventional retirement.