A community was in mourning last night following the tragic death of one of the north-east’s most prominent farming figures in an industrial accident.
Turriff Show president Bruce Ferguson was found dead at Ardmiddle Mains farm.
It is understood the 61-year-old had fallen into a grain storage tank, and that his son discovered the body when he went to look for him.
Last night, police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident, but that officers were still trying to piece-together exactly what happened.
Tributes to Mr Ferguson began to pour in yesterday from farming leaders and politicians including former first minister Alex Salmond.
Local community figures said the “modest” man would be remembered as a “true hero” within the agricultural industry.
They said that without his passion and determination, the annual Turriff Show may not have become the huge success it is now.
Mr Ferguson died just months after he proudly welcomed the Queen to the 2014 Turriff Show to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
Mr Ferguson – who drove the monarch around the showground in a car, answering her enthusiastic questions – said her appearance was not just a coup for the committee, but for every person for whom the show had become a yearly fixture.
Weeks later, his 30-year-old son Andrew got engaged and the family had been planning and looking forward to his wedding in June.
Aberdeenshire East MSP Mr Salmond said Mr Ferguson’s death was a “real blow” not just for the industry, but for the entire Turriff community.
“I knew Bruce well – he’s done such extraordinary work as the president of the Turriff Show and, like the rest of the committee, has made it the premier agricultural show in the country at the present moment,” said Mr Salmond.
“It’s really sad to hear of the death of someone who has contributed so much and, obviously, people across the north-east are going to send their best regards and condolences to Bruce’s family.”
Mr Ferguson grew up in Turriff and attended the local academy, where he became school captain.
He was an architect by profession – winning the medal for best student at Strathclyde University – and won a scholarship to study rural aesthetics at the Scottish Farm Buildings Investigation Unit at Craibstone.
He later became an adviser and lecturer at the old North of Scotland College of Agriculture, but his father’s poor health drew him back to their farm after 10 years.
With future generations in mind, he decided to take up farming full time and was appointed secretary of Turriff Show in 1994.
He steered the event through one of the most successful periods in its history, instigating and supervising developments including the building of the exhibition hall and the expansion of the show field.
His tenure culminated last year in his appointment as president, just in time to welcome Her Majesty to Aberdeenshire.
In October, he was honoured by the Royal Northern Agricultural Society with the Aberdeen and Northern Marts Award for outstanding service to the farming industry.
The judges said he always went “beyond the call of duty”.
“During Bruce’s time in the driving seat, the show has moved up a gear or two,” the judges added.
“In addition to his organisational and administrative qualities, his quiet, efficient, gentlemanly manner stands him apart from the crowd.
“He is one of the most hospitable and mild-mannered men you will ever come across.”
Mr Ferguson is survived by his wife, Kate, who has been a constant figure by his side at numerous events over the years.
The couple’s son, Andrew runs the farm on a day-to-day basis, while their daughter Lisa works as a pharmacist in London and is also a noted athlete.
Mr Ferguson died on Saturday.