Farewell to Dear Friends

LACHLAN QUARM

Annick Herd

1968 – 2021

Lachlan Quarm, born Shepparton, Australia, December 5th 1968. Son of Melvin and Margaret Quarm, brother to Rhona and Mhairi. Born on the other side of the world, Lachlan came to Scotland at around 6 months of age and grew up at Annick Lodge, Irvine, where his parents owned Holehouse Farm.

In his younger days Lachlan attended the local primary school before going on to Clifton Hall and Glenalmond boarding schools. He then furthered his education at Edinburgh University where he attained a BSc. Honours Degree in Agriforestry.

He then spent around 18 months travelling round Australia working on cattle stations and fruit farms. He also had a passion for restaurant and bar work. He returned home to work on the family farm and took over as a partner in the family business with his mother when his father passed away in 1997, working alongside my father, Graham, and looking after the commercial sheep flock and pedigree herd of Murray Grey cattle.

The first Simmental bull had been bought a few years earlier to cross with the Murray Greys to try and get a little more growth into the offspring. The decision was made to buy some Simmental females and the first one arrived in the shape of Brackenbury Bliss when she was purchased at Carlisle. Although he went a little over budget, it turned out to have been a justified decision as many direct descendants of Bliss can still be found in the herd today. The most notable female from this line is undoubtedly Annick Bracken’s Primrose. A grand-daughter of Bliss, she produced Annick Talisker, Junior Champion, Perth and sold for 20,000gns and Annick Dalwhinnie, Senior Champion and sold for 13,000gns as well as many females both sold to pedigree herds and retained at Annick.

Over the years many bulls have been purchased from top herds including Gretnahouse, Innerwick, Sterling, Skerrington, Corskie and more recently Wolfstar, Islavale and Kilbride Farm.

There have been many notable sales over the years, but it was in the showring that Lachlan loved to be, as well as the beer tent afterwards, discussing the days events and having a good catch up with other exhibitors. There have been many successes at local and national shows over the years, but one highlight is when Annick Tara’s Alice won Supreme Champion at the Royal Highland Show in 2011. Although she was then owned and shown by David Craig, Lachlan was very proud to have bred a Highland Show winner. This year, after a long lockdown, the Highland Show returned and a small team of 3 junior heifers was taken to Ingliston. Another proud moment when they stood 1st, 2nd and 3rd in class, with Annick Fresia’s Kiki Overall Female Champion then Reserve Overall Champion and Annick Ginger’s Lucia being Reserve Female on the day.

We recently returned from Stars of the Future at Stirling where Annick Memphis won Junior Male and Overall Junior Champion before going on to lift the Junior Interbreed title. Although Lachlan had sadly passed by this time, I’m sure he would have been looking down with immense pride.

He will be greatly missed by fiancée Christine, family, friends and in the Simmental community but hopefully the Annick name will be around for many years to come.

ARCHIE REANEY

Cladymore Simmentals 10th May 1950 – 13th June 2021

Archie was born and brought up on a dairy farm in the hills of South Armagh near the village of Cullyhanna. After attending agricultural college as a student his first job was working for Fane Valley in a piggery. After this he joined the Department of Agriculture which involved several roles including working with Ai Services. Archie remained with the Department all his working days and retired in April 2013.

In July 1976 Archie married his dear wife Elizabeth and went on to have two children Simon and Paul. In 1980 they purchased a small farm in the townland known as Cladymore which became home for the Reaney family.

Even though Archie was from a dairy background, beef breeding was always in his mind. After purchasing some commercial Simmentals, and winning some local Christmas shows with them, he decided he wanted to enter the world of pedigree cattle breeding and there was only one breed for him, The Simmental. In 1988 Archie established the CLADYMORE herd by buying his first pedigree Simmental heifer Magheracrigan Sacha from Mr Wesley Abraham in the Automart sale yard in Portadown. Today the Cladymore herd now consists of 40 pedigree Simmental cattle.

Over the years, many bulls and heifers have been sold to pedigree and commercial breeders throughout the UK and Ireland. One thing that always put a smile on Archie’s face was hearing and seeing how progeny from his stock were doing. One fond memory was seeing a daughter of Cladymore Edith win the All Ireland Weanling Champion in 2018 and go on to sell for €9100 at 12 months old.

Unfortunately in May 2018 Archie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. With treatment he made a good recovery but sadly on the 20th April 2021 the illness had returned, and on the 13th June Archie passed away and went to be with his Saviour.

We at Cladymore Simmentals have lost a dear father and great role model. We look back with thankful hearts and fond memories but look forward with excitement to see what the future holds for the Cladymore Simmental herd which our father Archie started.

CECIL CHARTRES

Lakeside’ Simmental

1951 – 2021

Cecil Chartres passed away on the 3rd November 2021 in the South West Acute Hospital Enniskillen. Cecil formed the ‘Lakeside’ Simmental herd with his brother David.

A well-known Simmental Breeder in Northern Ireland, Cecil enjoyed many trips to Perth, Stirling and herd visits along with Fermanagh Pedigree Breeders Club. He was a keen Beef stock judge and in particular many years ago with Lisbellaw Young Farmers.

Cecil played an active role stewarding at the Fermanagh County Show as well as an exhibitor in the flower and vegetable section winning numerous pieces of silverware.

Cecil played an active role in promoting the Simmental scene in Northern Ireland.

STEPHEN HITCHINS

Sterling Simmentals 1947 – 2021

Stephen passed away 13th August 2021 after a long illness. He will be sorely missed. Stephen founded the Sterling Herd of Simmentals in 1979 with the purchase of eight animals, and from that small beginning a hugely successful herd was formed, and one which continues to figure in the history annals of the breed.

Stephen served on the Simmental Council in the eighties, in what was a time of noted development of the breed. During his time on Council he was able to bring his knowledge of the building industry to use in the construction of the new Alpine style Society office at the Royal Showground, and which is still there today. He always said that in his business life whenever there was a problem that appeared unsolvable, to just go and walk through the cows and calves would always produce a solution.

Winning the Burke Trophy on three occasions with home bred cattle was, he said, the result of great team-work at home by all concerned. He enjoyed the social life of the breed in this country and in many other countries where Simmentals are found. Stephen loved a good party so it was not surprising in 2008, the year the World Simmental Congress was held in the UK, when the Royal Show altered it’s dates at the last minute, he offered Boddington Manor for the final evening of the Congress. It was a night to remember by all who attended.

Stephen was a formidable rugby player in his youth and enjoyed all sports during his life-time.

I would like to say, that to Pam and I he was not only our employer but a very good and kind friend and is sadly missed.

Rob Hewlett

DEREK LEONARD BERRY

Broadreed Simmentals

18th August 1936 – 14th October 2021

Members of the South East Simmental Group were saddened by the passing of Derek Berry following a short illness. Derek and his family established the Broadreed Simmentals in 1984 with cows from the noted Nyland and Aden prefixes. Successfully showing over a number of years, the herd also bred Broadreed Remus who soon rose to fame. The farm in Sussex ran 25 Simmental cows along with 25 commercial cows, 350 ewes and bred Morgan horses.

Derek was a very active member of the Group producing a newsletter for a number of years. As a committee member he always always gave sound advice and gained through his experience of many years in business in London. Born in Croydon he was educated at the Purley County Grammar School and joined the Navy to serve his National Service.

Derek was a keen rugby player and eventually served as President of the Purley Rugby Club. As a keen sailor he liked Freedom yachts so much he purchased the UK franchise of the company. Successful in business he formed Berry, Birch and Noble, and with an office in Portland Place.

Planning his retirement he enjoyed his farm along with his ongoing interests in sailing, rugby and fast cars. Married for 62 years to Jenny, Derek leaves a wife, 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

Derek will be missed by so many.

Peter Grenham

TOM BOOTH

Crackley Simmentals 1928 – 2021

In the year, the Society was sad to report on the passing of Tom Booth, Crackley Simmentals, Kenilworth, Warwickshire at the age of 93. In association with David Bell, the Crackley Simmental herd was established in 1980 with the purchase of their first female, Cloford Cadette 2nd, from the noted Cloford herd in Frome, Somerset, and soon followed by the purchase of Cloford Cadette 3rd who had a big influence on the Crackley pedigree herd. From there the Booth & Bell partnership became regulars on the show circuit and featuring at the Royal, Three Counties, Moreton in the Marsh, and Kenilworth Shows amongst others, as well as regularly attending pedigree sales at Perth, Worcester, and Bristol. Here Judith Cockerill pays a warm tribute and shares some memories.

‘Tom’s greatest love was for the Crackley herd of Simmentals. He took such immense joy in looking at them and watching them grow and develop and he could spend hours a day in the sheds, or in the fields, walking round and studying each and every one. Like David (Bell), he knew them all and the history of the dam and sire lines. His memory even in later years was fantastic for remembering which cow had bred which calf from years back, and the prices if they had been sold.

He certainly had his favourites! The top one of all time in his eyes was Crackley Cornelia 53R, which I had the pleasure of showing for Booth and Bell from her first outing as a heifer at Kenilworth Show, to her success later on as Overall Simmental Champion at the Royal Show in 2008. She was a dream to show and Tom loved seeing her out, he was so proud of her.

Tom loved going to the shows where Crackley cattle were being exhibited and took quiet pride in seeing them in their classes. Pedigree sales and markets were another love and he would happily talk about everything he had seen, prices made etc for hours on end. He loved chatting to everyone, members or non-members or complete strangers. Give Tom some food, a cup of tea and a willing ear and he was happy!

In the partnership he had with David, he trusted David’s decisions on all things and let him get on with the day to day running of the farm plus which animals needed to be sold or shown. Tom told me that he always knew within a very short space of time having met and worked with David that he had made the absolute right choice in going into a partnership with him and came to look upon David as the son he’d never had.

I have so may happy and funny memories of Tom and will treasure them always.’

Judith Cockerill