Glenbuchat Heritage

27 Prince Charles at Easterbuchat farm 1998

Prince Charles visits Easterbuchat Farm in 1998

From: The Herald Article: October 21, 1998

The Prince of Wales yesterday expressed deep concern at the problems of Scotland's hill farmers during a visit to two families in Glenbuchat and Glenlivet, writes Graeme Smith. The prince is staying at Balmoral and asked for a visit to be arranged to two farms. The crisis was discussed over a cup of tea, a bannock, and home-made jam. Accompanied by Scottish Office Agriculture Minister Lord Sewell and National Farmers' Union vice-president Peter Chapman, he arrived at Easter Buchat Farm, Glenbuchat, where he was greeted by owners Bill and Jean Thompson and their daughter Anna, 22, who is a legal secretary in Aberdeen. Their son Peter, 24, a top agricultural student, would have been there had the 68-hectare farm been able to support him but the drop in income has meant he has had to go and work on an arable farm near Alford. Mr Thompson's family have farmed in the area for four generations. ''It is just my husband and I who work on the farm,'' said Mrs Thompson. ''Unfortunately, our farm is no longer financially viable to keep Peter at home so he works on a big arable unit.'' She said they showed the prince around the farm, including the various aspects of a conservation plan drawn up in consultation with the Scottish Office. ''There is tree planting and water margins and we also have a very good wetland area which has a lot of species of flowers which are becoming extinct. ''Prince Charles was very knowledgeable and very sympathetic to the plight of the hill farmer and deeply concerned at the problems we are facing.'' Mr Chapman said: ''We spoke about the current state of the market, the low prices, the problems that causes for the farmers and the sustainability of agriculture in some of these remote and harder areas. ''He (the prince) showed quite a knowledge and obviously takes an interest in what goes on and I am sure he has more knowledge now than he had before. ''He was easy to talk to and it was informal and informative.'' From Glenbuchat, Prince Charles went to Dell Farm in Glenlivet, where he met Gerald and Margaret Stewart, who said he seemed genuinely concerned at their plight. He showed particular interest in a saw mill they have developed as part of their diversification policy.

Aberdeen Press and Journal - Wednesday 16 December 1998

A NORTH-EAST farmer and his wife attended a private reception with Tony and Cherie Blair at Downing Street this week. Bill Thomson and his wife Jean, of Easter Buchat, Glenbuchat, were among those invited to attend the party for Christmas Day workers. Nurses, emergency services and RSPCA staff were among those represented at the lavish hash in Number 10’s state rooms. Mr Thomson, 51, said last night both he and his wife were honoured to have been asked to attend the function. “We must have been asked through the Scottish Office,’' he added. “We were really excited when we heard that we had been chosen to go. There were about 70 people and their partners there but I think I was the only farmer from Scotland. Mr Blair asked me what kind of farm I had

Christmas Day will be just like any other for Mr Thomson, who will be getting up at around 6.45 am to feed to the cattle and sheep on his mixed farm.

“We’ll do all the work and then we might get some Christmas dinner,” he added.

In October, the Scottish arranged a visit to Easter Buchat for the Prince Wales and the Agriculture Minister Lord Sewel.