Haulage industry legend Ian Connor, who has been helping farmers and crofters since the 1950’s, is this year’s recipient of the Stalwart award, presented annually by NFU Scotland’s Argyll & the Islands region.
The award, created in 2016 and awarded for the first time in 2017, recognises those who have given time and effort to the work of the Union in Argyll & the Islands or have made a significant contribution to agriculture in the area.
At the regional AGM, which took place in Tarbert on Friday 13 January, David Henderson, the Regional Board representative from the Arran Branch announced Ian Connor of J Cooper & Co as the 2023 winner.
Ian was born in 1933 and, soon after leaving school, he began his career driving lorries in 1950 working alongside his mother’s eldest brother John Cooper. Ian went on to take over the business in the mid-60s.
During the first stage of his career, he showed a real skill for fabrication and design having built nine livestock containers himself by 1977 and continued building platforms for lorries up until 2005.
Ian worked tirelessly to grow the businesses which focused predominantly on the haulage of livestock, hay and straw, serving a large number of agricultural businesses across Argyll, from Tighnabruaich to Tarbert as well as the Islands of Islay, Bute and Arran. He was a key player when taking livestock off the islands to markets such as Stirling, Ayr and Lanark.
In paying tribute to Ian, David said: “Ian is still driving today at the age of 89 and always renowned for always turning up immaculately dressed in his shirt and tie and never gets flustered even when he has to deal with the odd disobedient animal.
“Ian and the rest of the team at J Cooper & Co. continue to be a tremendous support to the farmers in Argyll particularly those on the Isle of Arran managing to keep goods and livestock moving despite the challenges of working with the ferry network.
“Ian will have spent many a night sleeping in his cab after being stuck on the Island and yet still turns up first thing in the morning with a smile on his face, and of course the tie on!”
Notes to editors
- A photo of Argyll and the Islands Stalwart Award winner Ian Connor with his son, also Ian, is attached.
- The Stalwart award was created in 2016 in recognition and memory of the dedication shown by Mull’s Bert Leitch and Lachlan MacLean, who represented farmers and crofters both regionally and nationally for many years and passed away in 2015.
- It is presented annually to either a NFUS member who has followed in their footsteps and given time and effort to the work of the Union in Argyll & the Islands or someone who has made a significant contribution to agriculture in the area.
- The inaugural winner in 2017 was Dalmally farmer Sybil MacPherson; the 2018 winner was the late Ronnie Campbell, a Mull crofter; the 2019 winner was the late Sandy McKirdy from Bute; the 2020 winners were haulage experts Donnie and Kate McKerral; the 2021 winner was Dougie Ford from Inveraray, who has spent a lifetime encouraging new entrants into the industry and the 2022 recipient was long-serving NFUS secretary Susan Lamont from Tiree.
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Contact Bob Carruth on 07788 927675