WILLIAM JOHNSTON (60) of Hilton farm, Craigend, Perth, passed away after a short illness on Sunday January 19, at Perth Royal Infirmary, surrounded by his three children.

William was born and raised on Hilton, which was worked by his father, Charles Johnston, and grandfather before him. Farming was in his blood and was all he wanted to do from a young age, equalled only by his love for his children, grandchildren and travel.

He started travelling while in his youth with the Scouts, and then hitch-hiked to France as a teen, only to discover he didn’t have enough money to go any further and come straight back. Most recently, he travelled to less popular places, opting for quiet, unknown treasures such as Azerbaijan, Georgia and Bulgaria.

William attended Perth Academy and then agricultural college in Aberdeen, before returning to the family farm. He started working at Hilton with his father and uncle when they farmed mostly wheat and barley, and could be found each summer by the grain dryer. The family expanded the farm into wild boar production for a time, and he became a regular face at Perth, Edinburgh and Stirling farmers' markets, and only recently stopped raising the boar.

He married Annette Bruce at Dunbarny church in June 1981, and was a loving father to three children, Laura, Christopher and Karen, and seven grandchildren.

A service for him will be held at Dunbarny church, Bridge of Earn, on February 5, at 11am.