Tributes paid to dalesman and farmer John Alan Scott

Tributes have been paid to a well-known dalesman who dedicated his life to farming and his family.
John Alan Scott, of Westfield Farm, in Lunedale, died suddenly on Friday, November 4, aged 75.
Born in July 1941, Mr Scott was the only child of tenant farmers John William and Hilda Scott who lived on Intake Farm, in Forest-in-Teesdale. His love of farming took hold at the age of 16 when he started helping his father.
Mr Scott married his wife Doreen in 1965 and following the death of his father in 1969, the couple continued to farm Intake until 1996.
Before they left, Mr and Mrs Scott bought a parcel of land near Mickleton in 1982 which was to be their home, Westfield Farm, where they spent almost 20 years together, managing a small flock of sheep and herd of cattle.
As a youngster Mr Scott was a pupil at Forest of Teesdale Primary School. Despite passing the entrance exam for Barnard Castle School he opted for Middleton-in-Teesdale School instead. He finished his studies at Houghall agricultural college in Durham.
Over the years, Mr Scott went on to hold a number of active roles within local, national and European agriculture. Having being one of the founder members of the charity Utass (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services), Mr Scott only retired from the committee about a year ago. He was also county chairman of the NFU for North Riding and Durham for a number of years, during which he visited Brussels to discuss agricultural policies.
He was also called upon by the Ministry of Agriculture during the foot and mouth epidemic in. Mr Scott was a much-loved husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, uncle and great uncle.
Mr Scott’s daughter, Joanne, said: “Dad lived life to the full. He was always on the go.
“He loved farming and everything that went with it. He was caring and was always thinking about others. He was a family man too. He always had the interests of others at heart.”
Having been a long-standing member of the board of directors for Middleton-in-Teesdale Auction Mart, Mr Scott became chairman of the mart in 1987 and held the role for the next 29 years.
Although he remained on the board of directors, Mr Scott stepped down as chairman in March this year after overcoming a number of health problems. They included undergoing heart surgery, surviving a stroke and overcoming prostate cancer.
His daughter, Julie, said: “He lived a life of marts. It was not just Middleton mart. If he could go to any mart he would. It was like a second home.
“He would help anyone when it came to farming. He just made friends so easily. He was a loveable character and we have endless memories of him. He was the best dad – we were very lucky to have shared his life.”
For more than 30 years, Mr Scott ran his own bull hire business from the home farm, an idea which has since been copied across the UK. The business continues to be run from Westfield but is now owned by a former employee.
In recent years, Mr Scott continued as president of Langdon Beck Show.
His widow said: “He always had a project. It didn’t matter what it was but he always had to have one. In the winter he would do a tractor up and get things ready for the next season. He always kept busy. We enjoyed our holidays but we always had to look at how the farming was when we were there.
“In the last two years, when he did not like to drive too much, he still went to the marts as much as he could when I drove him. He was bidding at the mart the week before he died but luckily they did not see him.”
Aside from farming, Mr Scott served as Barnard Castle West county councillor on Durham County Council for about nine years. He was also a councillor on Forest and Frith Parish Council.
Joanne said: “He loved his life. Nothing ever seemed to slow him down.”
Mrs Scott added: “He was lovely and he will be missed lots. When you have been with someone 51 years you can’t say anything else.”
More than 300 people attended Mr Scott’s funeral on Friday, November 11, at St Mary’s church in Middleton-in-Teesdale. The service was followed by refreshments at the mart. The family would like to thank everyone for their kindness and the generous donations received for Utass and Middleton Methodist Church in his memory.