Brian Allan, one of Scotland’s best known pedigree cattle breeders, died recently aged 62 following a tragic accident.
He was born and brought up at Glenturk in Wigtownshire and educated at Wigtown Primary and then at Strathallan in Perthshire where he developed a lifelong love of rugby.
His earliest successes were with Galloway and Simmental cattle after he left school and when he was in partnership with his father Willie at Glenturk.
During that period the family were involved in livestock exports and an early adventure saw Brian in charge of a consignment of Galloway cattle to Kenya.
Following marriage to Lynn in 1975 the couple set up home at Muirfad near Newton Stewart before moving back to Glenturk in 1988.
At that time the family partnership was dissolved and Brian set up in business as Glenturk Pedigree Herds.
He added a Limousin herd to the enterprise and had much showring success with them until disaster struck with the farm’s entire cattle stock being lost in the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease cull.
With help from his son Graham he set about building up new herds of Limousin and Simmental cattle and was soon back in the higher echelons of both breeds, selling the Limousin bull Glenturk Ultrasolid at Carlisle for 21,000 guineas.
His greatest showring success came with the Simmental Glenturk Mermaid, which won the Royal Highland breed championship and reserve interbreed championship.
His last major championship was in 2009 with his stock bull Glenturk Vernon.
Brian also judged at every major show in the UK and Ireland over the years.
His other great interest was rally driving, and over a 32-year career in partnership with his friend David Reid they had numerous top placings.
He is survived by his wife Lynn, son Graham, daughter Carolynn and their families.