November 2004

Mart man Ian's 'temporary' job which lasted for 42 years!

Ian Johnstone

What potentially was a temporary job for Ian Johnstone at Lockerbie Mart has lasted for 42 years.

When he was 24, Ian approached the foreman who ran the mart for Harrison & Hetherington to ask if there were any temporary jobs going, little knowing that the foreman was of retiring age. "Dick Harrison asked me to take the foreman's job and he gave me three weeks to think about it and I decided to do it," he said. "I must have done the job right as I have been here for 42 years," said Ian, who officially retires on November 9.

Ian, who is Lockerbie born and bred and still lives in the town with his wife Liz whom he married the year after taking on the job, is not just a familiar face at Lockerbie Mart.

While most of his work has been involved with the day to day running of the mart at Lockerbie, he has also worked at Carlisle (including the old Botchergate and Earl Street marts), Newcastleton and at the former mart at Langholm. Fortunately a natural early riser, Ian often has to be at the mart at the crack of dawn to allow the stock into the pens for a sale.

When he left school Ian worked on a farm as assistant to a dairyman as his grandfather had been, then he spent two years labouring and joinering before working at the mart. "I have enjoyed working at the mart and Harrison & Hetherington has been a good firm to work for. I have always been fortunate in having good staff to work with which could be up to nine including part timers on a busy day."

Probably his worst memory of his working years was during foot and mouth when he was among those working at the Great Orton airfield site burying the cull sheep - however, fortunately it only lasted a month.

Since 2001, restrictions in the wake of foot and mouth have led to increasing complications when running sales at the mart although with fewer restrictions than south of the Border.

Ian plans to keep his hand in at the mart, doing part time yard work, and he is looking for a new hobby for his retirement.

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