Scottish pedigree livery expert, Richard Rettie, has been awarded the 2024 David Thomlinson Lifetime Achievement Award, for his dedication in preparing cattle for the UK’s most prestigious show rings.

Richard is the fourth recipient of this award, created by Harrison and Hetherington in 2021 to recognise a lifetime’s commitment and accomplishment within the livestock farming industry, following David Thomlinson’s untimely death in a tragic accident.

His nomination stated: “Richard is a master of his profession. He has earned the trust of the pedigree cattle industry throughout the UK and has a vast number of customers who rely on his ability to produce pedigree cattle to the animal’s full potential.

“He is always the first to credit his wife, Carol, for making their success possible, and we all hope very much that they will continue to push the standards of showing even higher and with ever greater success.

“They support the industry and the agricultural community, and they are a wonderful inspiration to the next generation of breeders and showers.”

Having establishing himself as a leading freelance stockman 27 years ago, Richard commented: “David Tomlinson was a mentor and an inspiration to me early in my career, and this is a very great honour to receive his award for doing something that I love. It makes me feel old, but I am absolutely over the moon to have received such a prestigious award.”