Members of the north-east farming community are set to pay tribute to an industry stalwart.
Aberdeen and Northern Marts (ANM), along with farmers from across the region, is gathering funds to honour Allan Taylor for over 50 years service in the livestock auctioneering trade.
ANM executive director, John Gregor, said: “Allan has been a well-respected and loyal long-serving member of staff with Aberdeen and Northern Marts for over five decades.
“He is well known as being one of Scotland’s top commercial cattle auctioneers with a tremendous knowledge of livestock and has contributed significantly to the development of Thainstone.
“We wish him well on his retirement and are pleased that he will continue to be part of Thainstone supporting and mentoring our next generation of auctioneers and retaining links with a small number of customers in the Deeside area.”
Mr Taylor started his career in 1962 as a trainee clerk at Kittybrewster Mart in Aberdeen, and by 1967 he was transferred to Aboyne as a junior auctioneer.
He soon became part of the Dee and Donside team, regularly selling at Aboyne, Alford and Torphins, and by the mid 1990s he was made manager of the area.
Following the opening of the Thainstone Centre in 1990, Mr Taylor took over responsibility for the key store cattle sales and is prided with being integral to the development of the auction mart.
The closing date to contribute to Mr Taylor’s retiral fund is Friday, July 31.
Donations can be made at the main office at the Thainstone Centre and to any auctioneers or canvassers.
In addition, they can be given to the following farmers – Sandy Anderson at Nether Tillygarmond, Finzean; Ronald Smith at Wester coull, Tarland; Sandy Tulloch at Waulkmill Corse, Ian Emslie at Litte Barras, Stonehaven and Norman Innes at Millbrae, Findhorn.