Charles Graham Fenton, 73

Well-known Perthshire farmer Graham Fenton died aged 73 in the McMillan Cornhill Centre at Perth Royal Infirmary on Wednesday.

Mr Fenton, who was educated at Guildtown Primary and then Robert Douglas Memorial School in Scone, dedicated his life to the family farming business at Newlands Farm, Guildtown.

He began working there with his late father and his brother, Jim, and worked latterly with his daughter Karen and sons Graham and William, all of whom will continue the enterprise there.

Mr Fenton was predeceased by his wife Betty by three months.

He was a tenant of the Guildry Incorporation of Perth at both Newlands and Loanhead farms but pushed the business forward with the purchase of Cairnbeddie and Blackfaulds farms.

The business expanded into potato growing and contract farming in the neighbourhood.

His passion initially lay with his cattle and he supplied many of the butchers in and around Perth. He sold the first animal through the ring at the then-new mart at Huntingtower.

To mark this honour the beast’s head was mounted and oversaw all the proceedings in the market foyer until it closed its doors.

Mr Fenton was a member of Perth Show’s yard and finance committee and did much to promote the event in the 1990s.

He is survived by his sister Sheila, children Karen, Graham and William, son-in-law Paul, daughters-in-law Inese and Marketa and five grandchildren.

Mr Fenton’s funeral, followed by interment, will take place at St Martin’s Parish Church at 11am on Thursday.

Mr Fenton was wellknown in the farming community.