Posts by Rob Bryce

For most of his life, my Father has worked and farmed the same area of loam rich land, in the undulating Howe of Strathmore, deep in rural Perthshire. Agriculture has been core to our family for countless generations just as medicine, academia, high finance or public service has for others. As a son of the soil his life has been shaped by the vagaries of the weather and politics of the day. He has watched his children grow, celebrated births and weddings, mourned the passing of close friends and the tragic death of his first Grandson. And like many of his generation, he has done so with a stoic good grace, and fortitude of spirit, that I and others of my time can only aspire to. My overriding memory of my Father will always be of an unrelenting and hard working...

I don’t know about you, but I’ve often wondered how individuals in positions of influence make decisions and why? They’re allegedly considered to be our opinion formers, and the backbone of society! Yesterday – at the Balmoral Show in Belfast – I approached a former colleague, Martin Cassidy, who is lead Rural Affairs Correspondent with the BBC in Northern Ireland. I explained that my client, David Laughlin, the first Organic Dairy farmer in Ireland, was going to present – in person – to HRH The Prince of Wales, a groundbreaking document on the future of organic food on the day of its public launch! It’s a subject which is not only of massive global importance, it’s also very close to HRH Prince Charles own mantra, about local,...

205 years ago a young widow by the name of Barbe Nicole Ponsardin inherited her husband’s champagne business after his premature death. She was only 27. Her stoic determination to build a prestige Champagne House became assured in 1814. Showing great foresight – just ahead of Napolean’s blockade – she shipped 10,000 bottles of her branded Veuve Cliquot Ponsardin Champagne to Russia, ahead of the competition. At some point in the process she had to decide whether to say no or yes!! No one else could get their product into the country and overnight she became known as the ‘Grand Dame de la Champagne’! Veuve Clicquot Now as my good friends will tell you, I, like many others. enjoy the occasional quaff of fizz and tonight I’m having a glass to...

The name of this beautiful young woman escapes me now, although I did receive her permission to take this photograph at La Feria de Abril in Seville! It’s an amazing week long celebration of flamenco music and dance. Over 1000 brightly coloured ‘casetas’ – small marquees – are erected by local businesses, aristocratic families, and trade unions a short walk across the river from the city centre. The impromptu tented village acts as a base where friends, colleagues and clients are entertained and partake of the famous Andalusian hospitality. Originally the site of a cattle fair in 1847 it has evolved to become the most stylish and stunning equine event in the world, with over a million visitors flocking to the week long festivities. I...

I do not remember exactly when we turned off Donald’s life support. In the days, weeks and months that followed his death, time took on a different dimension. It seemed to matter little then, although I suspect it was nearing midnight, on Sunday 27th February 2000. That ten years have passed seems unbelievable, that the pain has never truly diminished, does not. Donald was our 21 year old son with the world at his feet! He had just passed his international ski instructor’s exams and decided to celebrate, by kayaking a Grade 5 Scottish river in full winter spate. How he capsized remains a mystery, but when he was swept into a massive whirlpool, a safety rope thrown by his friend, failed to come close to his grasp across the ferocious, thunderous cavern. Many...