The Society was saddened to learn of the passing of former Society chairman and director, Keith Jamieson of the Annan flock.
A legend of the Texel breed and recognised throughout the UK for his skill in selecting the right sire and dam combinations to improve his flock, Keith was a renowned stockman, noted for his skill in breeding both sheep and dairy cattle.
Such was his prowess; Keith won the Texel section of the Royal Highland Show three times and the Royal Show championship once.
On top of that, he topped the Society’s Scottish National Sale, Lanark, no fewer than four times, including with the noted Annan Masterpiece in 1983 and with Annan His Highness in 1978.
Keith won the championship at Lanark in 1993 with Annan Ygorra and also bred three English National Sale toppers and was the judge for the first Texel classes staged at the Royal Show, Stoneleigh, in 1980. He was recognised for his achievements within the breed with a President’s Award in 2015.
Annan breeding was in demand throughout the breed for many years, with sires such as Annan Won-0-Won, sire of the record breaking Muiresk Blondin, as well as Annan Brave Heart and Annan Freebie.
Alongside this pedigree breeding success, Keith was also among the first to show Texels in prime lamb classes, notably winning the Royal Smithfield Show in 1985, one of two Smithfield championships he achieved.
One the early pioneers of the breed Keith staged a number of highly successful production sales over the years, including selling 70 gimmers in 1993 to average £1425 and achieving a notable high of 12,000gns for a gimmer, JKA96155, in 1997, having topped the Society’s 21st anniversary gimmer sale at 5200gns in 1995.
Then, in 1998, Keith sold Annan Elite at Lanark for a flock best of 21,000gns having previously recorded a sale of 16,000gns for Annan Ygorra at Lanark in 1993, with 10 Annan Won O Won sons averaging 4640gns for five flocks at the same sale.
Sadly, disaster hit at Annan when the flock was lost to foot-and-mouth in 2001. However, ever determined, Keith restocked, seeking out his own breeding among females from other flocks, including a ewe, JKA98207 which went on to breed Annan Jewel, and also benefitting from one Annan ewe having been resident in Aberdeenshire with the Mair family for ET work.
The Society sends its condolences to Keith’s family and friends. Keith’s funeral will be held on Tuesday 28 July 2026 at Old Parish Church, Annan at 11.30am, thereafter to Dornock Cemetery.