Many colleagues, past and present at Moredun were very sad to hear the news of the death of James ‘Jim’ Stobo (CBE, DL, FRAGS) who played a significant role within the Animal Diseases Research Association where he was the President from 1980 and also became the chairman of The Moredun Foundation. Jim’s involvement with Moredun covered a period of 32 years and he helped to oversee the move of the Institute from its original home on Gilmerton Road in Edinburgh to Pentlands Science Park in Midlothian.
Jim was born into a farming family and his parent’s farmed at Fishwick Mains in the Tweed valley where they farmed livestock. Jim left school early to help take over the shepherding role on the farm and quickly built up an excellent reputation with the Border Leicester sheep and was winning prizes at the Royal Highland Show. He also established a herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle on the farm. He was an active member of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers and progressed to becoming the President of the National Farmers Union. Jim received an OBE in recognition for his contributions to the farming industry and had several connections through his work with members of the Royal Family. He was a trustee of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother Castle of Mey Trust, where he provided advice about the herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle. Jim received a further honour with a CBE for services to agriculture and he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies. He made an outstanding contribution to the livestock industry over his lifetime and gave significant support to the work of Moredun.