Jim calls it a day from agriculture
A popular and much loved agricultural consultant has retired after almost 43 years with Scotland’s Rural College ( SRUC).
To celebrate Jim Ritchie’s decades of service with SAC Consulting, part of SRUC, colleagues from far and wide attended a special lunch at the college’s Ayr campus.
After graduating with a degree in General Agriculture from the University of Edinburgh, Jim joined the then West of Scotland Agricultural College in 1975.
Spending four decades in one organisation allowed Jim to witness a range of advancements and pivotal moments in agricultural history, including the introduction of Milk Quotas in 1984 and huge leaps forward in technology.
He is now looking forward to going travelling with his wife, Anne, and spending more time with his family, including his two- year- old granddaughter.
He said: “When I started working at the college, technology was very limited.
“There were three telephones, a golf- ball typewriter and a Gestetner duplicator.
“There were no computers, calculators or photocopiers.
“It’s very exciting to have lived and worked through great advancements in technology, and witnessed the opportunities it has provided and will continue to provide to improve technical and business efficiency.”
Mike Wijnberg, Managing Director of SAC Consulting, said: “Following 42 years of dedicated service, on behalf of all of us at SAC Consulting, I would like to wish Jim all the best.” A reckless driver has been fined after crashing into another car as he sped through an Ayr residential street.
James Brown’s lawyer said his foot slipped while driving causing the motor to zoom through Patterson Street in the Heathfield area.
The road was lined with cars on both side when Brown mounted a kerb and collided with a parked vehicle at 12 noon on December 7.
Solicitor Tony Currie told Ayr Sheriff Court last week his client had a number of health issues.
Mr Currie said: “He tells me his feet slipped. That caused his vehicle to accelerate.”
Brown, 48, of James Street, Tarbolton, admitted driving at excessive speed for road conditions, without due care or attention and failing to keep it under control causing a collision.
He was fined £ 200 and banned from driving for 14 months at Ayr Sheriff Court last week.