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Obituary: David Thomlinson

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Obituary: David Thomlinson

DAVID Thomlinson, who died on Saturday as a consequence of a tragic accident on his farm, will be remembered for his outstanding dedication to the livestock auctioneering world.

He was born and brought up in Cumbria and after leaving Carlisle Grammar School in 1962, he began working for livestock auctioneers Harrison and Hetherington as an office boy based in Botchergate, Carlisle. During his early career he took and passed his Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyor exams, then moved across into auctioneering and rose through the ranks to managing director.

David’s career with the firm spanned over 57 years and although he could have retired, he still maintained a key role within the company through his love of the livestock rings as an auctioneer, mentor and assisting the land agency with property sales. One of his proudest moments was the sale of a Texel Shearling Ram, Loosebeare Imp, in 2003 which sold for 120,000gns. Another was the sale of the prize winning Limousin bull, Haltcliffe Vermont, who sold for a then world Limousin record price of 100,000gns in 2010.

Throughout his career David maintained his passion for farming, livestock, and rural issues. Along with his wife Sheila, he farmed their 200 acre farm, Park View at Scaleby, Carlisle from where they started their pedigree herd of Limousin cattle in 1978. The farm produces quality bulls and females for sale both in the ring and privately. David was a former chairman of the North West Limousin Cattle Breeders Association and had made a hugely important contribution to the British Limousin Cattle Society, serving as a council member for a number of years, concluding with a two year presidency in September 2018. Outside of work and commitments to his farm and livestock, David was a chairman of the Cumberland Show, among other roles. For a six year period, which included the outbreak of BSE, David was also chairman of the Livestock Auctioneers Association. In 2011, he was presented with the Blamire Award for services in promoting the Cumberland farming industry.

Plus having served for six years as chairman of the Pedigree Breeders Committee, David was appointed chairman of the NBA in 2013 and currently holds the position of president. In 2017, he was awarded the prestigious Farmer’s Guardian Lifetime Auctioneer Achievement Award in recognition for the vital role he has played in the market system and in recognition as an inspirational model.

There are two things which David said he would pass onto the next generation, to always be honest and to always remember the little man. He will be greatly missed by his family and all the H&H team, but his hard work over the years will live on through the next generation for many years to come.

Dumfries and West, Front, News

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