At the meeting of 23rd January, Club Secretary Derek Mathie gave a very interesting talk about his working life - focusing mainly on the time when he started his own business. Derek is in business as an Agricultural Merchant supplying fertilizers etc. to farmers and buying grain from them to sell on to others who use their products.

He started his working life as a representative for “Scot Grain”, where he worked for 20 years, before starting out on his own in 2006. He commented that he felt very fortunate that all of his clients came over to him in his new business - and have stayed with him ever since.

Derek shared with us the problems he had to overcome and the highs and the lows he has gone through to get to where he is today. Altogether a very interesting story.

We heard that over the past 10 years, Derek has built up his business, which now employs his wife and one of his three daughters, to be well recognized and respected within the farming community. Although he has been approached by bigger businesses offering to buy over his business, he has no intention of selling, as he very much enjoys his work and the satisfaction it brings him.

As we go into the Brexit period, Derek expects business to a bit more difficult, however, he is confident that the farming industry will evolve to cope with the changes – as will his business.

Following questions a vote of thanks was proposed by John O’Neill and the evening was rounded off with a toast to the club from President Andrew Lindsay.