John was born and brought up around the Edinburgh area, and after a year in Australia as a Jackaroo, worked on farms and then took the Scottish Diploma in Agriculture at Edinburgh, completing the course in Spring 1957.

At that time Spylaw was on the market and he settled near Kelso in May 1957 aged 23. He married Alison in 1960 and are the proud parents of five children and now have 9 grandchildren.

He became a councillor in Roxburgh in 1963 serving on the planning committee, education committee, on the board of the Edinburgh College of Agriculture, and vice chairman of Oatridge Agricultural college from its inception until regionalisation in 1970.

He is a member of the Royal Company of Archers, Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland, a church elder for many years and currently treasurer for Kelso North and Ednam.

His interests include shooting, golf, and county sports, and has built up a real interest in wildlife. He was the founder vice chairman of FFWAG in the Borders, and then Chairman for three years, and has served on committees of the Scottish Landowners, N.F.U. and Timber Growers.

John is the proud owner of a 1938 Rolls Royce on which he learned to drive!