William Hamilton: a farming legacy in the Borders

A true character and gentleman, he was well-kent and much respected throughout the region’s farming and rural community. Where does one begin to talk about someone as well-known and colourful as Billy?

First and foremost, he was a family man. He was born in 1935 on Earlside, a large pastoral farm in the hills south of Hawick up the Slitrig Water that his father, Tommy, had purchased having formally lived near Stobs, also on the Slitrig Water. His formative years would see Billy immersed in rural life at Earlside, roaming the hills and involving himself with the sheep, cattle, horses, and general farm life.

He was educated at Cogsmill Primary School close to Earlside then progressed to Hawick High School along with his older siblings Margo and Dorothy. He met Rosemary ‘Rogie’ Mundel and they married in Melrose Parish Church in 1960. Their four sons Neil, Michael, David and Gavin soon followed to complete the family.

Half-bred ewe lambs were his pride and joy on the sheep side, and the annual consignment of ewe lambs from Earlside was a highlight of the year, often ringing the bell at Hawick and latterly St Boswells. There was also a renowned flock of Blackface sheep on Birnieknowe while the annual trip to Lanark would be another important day in the calendar.

On the cattle front, Billy was also at the top of the tree when it came to breeding and selling quality calves. A herd of Galloways was established on Birnieknowe to breed blue grey heifers for Earlside with the resulting Angus and latterly Charolais calves sought after by buyers at the famous Hawick Auction Mart. The after-sale revelry and refreshments in The Keb House are now a distant memory but Billy and his friends were usually at the centre of the banter and camaraderie.

Billy took pride in grassland and other crops in an era when there were more oats and turnips on upland farms. He had a tremendous crop of spring oats which the RHASS tour was impressed with in 1977 when they navigated from Earlside down to Preston to highlight the diverse farming in the Borders.

There was even a stop at Hassendean Bank to view a parade of Kenneth Oliver’s racehorses and have a refreshment or two.

Billy is also fondly remembered in the sheep and horse showing circles and was much in demand as a respected judge, not just because of his ability to pick a winner but also his ability to resonate with all competitors, especially the younger or new ones. This same ability to resonate with people inspired teamwork and loyalty. He had two long-service medal recipients who worked for him – Bill McGlasson and latterly Johnny Rome.

Which brings us to the equine side. Billy had grown up with ponies, hunters and point-to-point horses. Earlside was in the Jed-Forest country but quite close to Liddesdale which was more of a hill pack, and in his formative years Billy was a keen follower. This led to P2P racing and Billy was an enthusiastic Corinthian jockey winning many races with Slitrig Lass, Scottish Reform and Lucky Willie being the highlights.

In the late 1960s, his father had gone to Ireland with the late Neil Manning of Tweedshaws and came home with Naughty Tara, a Proud Tarquin mare. She was successful in P2P but her pinnacle came when she won the prestigious Heart of all England Hunter Chase at Hexham under Lenny Lungo, although sadly Tommy had died a few months earlier.

Billy set Naughty Tara on her broodmare career, sending her to local stallion New Brig. The first foal, Earlsbrig, was born in 1976. Earlsbrig always had a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ but even Billy wasn’t quite ready for the manner in which he demolished the opposition in a maiden at Dalston in 1981, under Peter Craggs. Suddenly, Billy had a horse for which the sky was the limit and he had to morph from Corinthian amateur to the professional ranks. Earlsbrig won numerous P2Ps and hunter chases then, at the start of the 1984/85, season he graduated to the professional ranks.

A loyal and understanding partnership was formed with jockey Phil Tuck, which saw Earlsbrig win a string of handicap chases culminating in the Greenal Whitney Handicap at Haydock.

“The beer will come in handy for the clipping,” quipped Neil Manning who was usually in attendance. Borders jockey Geordie Dun also rode when Phil Tuck was unavailable.

Earlsbrig’s career highlight was a very creditable third in the gold cup in 1985 behind Forgive N’ Forget in the gladiatorial cauldron of Cheltenham, where it seemed half the Borders was down to cheer him on. He also finished third in the King George at Kempton and won the Tommy Whittle at Haydock in the 1985/86 season.

In the twilight of his racing career, Earlsbrig reverted back to his roots in the amateur hunter chases, successfully ridden by Billy’s son Michael. Indeed, a family horse for a racing family.

Billy and Rogie moved from Earlside to Kirkton in autumn 2002 to live in Atholl Cottage where they became a constant and major contributor to the local community. Billy had always been an active member at Cavers and Kirkton Church and was an elder up until his death.

Billy and Rogie’s famous, vibrant hospitality simply shifted from Earlside to Kirkton.

The tragic onset of dementia with Rogie was one of the low points of Billy’s life.

His devotion and attention to Rogie in her later years, especially after she went to Knowesouth Care Home, is an example and an inspiration to us all. Rogie died in 2020 and Billy carried on with his usual jovial and optimistic outlook on life.

Although officially retired from farming in 2002, handing over the farming reins to Neil and Michael, up to the end he was giving out valuable advice and helping out. Indeed, there was hardly a day he wouldn’t drive up to Birnieknowe and see what was to be done.

He helped out at the lambing, cutting and clipping, revelling in the camaraderie of a gang of workers, especially the young.

On his death many locals’ first thoughts were of his car parked on the heights, the hill road between Hawick and Bonchester, striding over the hills checking sheep and feeling the westerly wind on his face.

Billy’s death leaves a large void in the Borders landscape, but he is survived by his four sons and many grandchildren, and I think we can safely say that the Hamilton legacy is secured for future generations.