The Scottish farming community has been left shocked by the news of the tragic death of Borders farmer Jim Sharp at the age of 66.
A former livestock convener of NFU Scotland and for a number of seasons captain of Melrose Rugby Club, he was one of the country’s best-known farmers and a prominent breeder of Blackface sheep.
He was found dead at his farm steading at Newbigging Walls, Lauder, by his wife Obie on Monday afternoon.
It is believed he had become entangled in barn machinery.
Yesterday morning emergency services were still on site while inquiries continued.
The farm two miles south of Carfraemill straddles the A697, with the farmhouse on one side of the road and the steading on the other.
Mr Sharp ran Newbigging Walls as an arable and stock unit, and also until recently farmed the nearby hill unit of Longcroft.
Over decades he and his late father Willie turned out the best quality Blackface tups from Longcroft, which was famed as having some of the best and most productive hirsels in the Lammermuirs.
In recent years Jim had retained ownership of Longcroft but contracted out the Blackface flock to the Duke of Northumberland, who farms next door at Burncastle.
His plan had been to wind down in the approach to a retirement that sadly will not now happen.
His livestock interest of late had been focused on the success of his wife’s Bluefaced Leicester flock, which they ran together at Newbigging Walls
A pupil of St Mary’s in the Borders and then Merchiston Castle in Edinburgh, he gained a Scottish Diploma in Agriculture at Edinburgh School of Agriculture followed by a National Diploma in Agriculture.
His NFUS career started early and led to a meteoric rise through the ranks, becoming in the early 1980s hill farming convener and then livestock convener.
John Ross, later to become an NFUS president, succeeded Jim as hill farming convener. He said: “Jim was not only a very capable farmer, he contributed greatly to the wellbeing of the hill farming and livestock sectors.”
Jim Sharp was also a board member of the Scottish Wool Growers co-operative and a respected valuer of hill sheep stock.
A former Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland director, he was sheep-shearing convener when the Highland Show hosted the Golden Shears World Shearing Championships in 2003.
NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller paid tribute. “Jim has left his mark on Borders farming through his skill, energy and attention to detail. His stockmanship amongst his hill sheep and husbandry on low ground demonstrate Scottish farming at its best.
“As a man he had a sharp intellect and a level of experience which was of real value in serious conversation, but also a generosity and love of life which made him great company,” he added.
“Often soft spoken, he contributed to debate in a positive way. His thoughts were of real value at both local and national level, where he gave his time to the union and the community.
“Jim was an ambassador for all that is good in farming. He gave a lot to our industry, the Borders community and the union. Most importantly he was a great friend that so many of us will miss. Our sympathy must be with his family.”
Mr Sharp is survived by his wife Obie, his daughter Jacqui Campbell from Easter Happrew, Peebles, his son Liam who is an equine vet with a practice near Dublin, their spouses and four grand-daughters.