New role for Ian Fleming after winning the vote to become ISDS Chairman
13 February 2020
The ISDS has a new Chairman in post following the Society’s annual meetings held in Kendal.
At the AGM, held on February 1st, more than 100 ISDS directors made the trip to Cumbria. Standing for election were Ian Fleming, of Douglas, Lanark, and John McCullough, of Portadown, Co. Armagh.
Both candidates gave a 10 minute presentation to the directors before the vote was taken by ballot. It was a close call, but Ian won the election and will hold the position of chairman for the next three years.
Ian said he has had a lifelong fascination with all things sheepdog.
At the age of 14 he bought his first pup from a neighbouring shepherd, and his father paid for his lifetime membership of the ISDS.
Born and brought up on a hill sheep farm in the southern uplands of Scotland, Ian took over the farm tenancy at the age of 22. During the negotiation process with Douglas and Angus Estates, Ian met Estate owner Sir Alec Douglas-Home, a former Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary.
Over the next 20 years Ian negotiated tenancies of several other farms and his enterprise grew. His close connection and good relationship with the Estate resulted in him being asked to take on the role of Estate Factor, a position he held for almost 20 years until he retired three years ago.
Ian has also been appointed a Tweed Commissioner, to help oversee the management of the River Tweed, he has been appointed to the board of the Scottish Land and Estates Group and is an advisory board member to two companies.
He has served as an ISDS Director and on Council, and has also been Course Director at some of the Society’s major trials, including last year’s International at Brechin.
During his presentation Ian said: “A good chairman must nurture the immense skill base of our members and should encourage as much as possible their participation in the running of the Society.”
He added: “Our generation has inherited a Society in very good heart from previous generations and our greatest achievement would be to leave the same legacy, or even better, for future generations.”
Read more about Ian in the Mar/Apr issue of International Sheepdog News.
Photo and report courtesy of Lisa Soar