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Angus estate handyman Grant Stephen has been recognised for his “immense loyalty” to his employers.

He was recently presented with a long service award by Scottish Land & Estates (SLE).

Grant has worked for Middleton Estate, near Arbroath, for 25 years.

But that’s only part of a much longer lasting Stephen family and Middleton connection.

Grant’s grandad previously worked on the estate for 31 years.

SLE’s long service awards pay tribute to employees who have made an outstanding contribution to a rural business.

Middleton is a mixed landholding, with grazing, arable land and woodland.

Grant’s grandfather, Jock Angus, lived on the estate with his family for 50 years.

“I was born in Friockheim, just up the road,” Grant said.  “I pretty much grew up on the estate, with my grandfather.

“It was an amazing place for a boy, surrounded by fields, tractors and wildlife.  It’s always felt like home.

“Over the years my grandfather’s knowledge was kind of drip-fed into me.

“And then when he came to retire, he wanted to make sure the job went to the right person.

“So, I overlapped with him for a while and gradually took on the job full time.”

Grant continued: “Now I live in a different cottage on the estate.  My children have grown up here too.

“The whole family has been able to stay in the area and work in jobs where we get to enjoy the countryside all year round.”

Evan Bruce-Gardyne of Middleton Estate, said: “We are very fortunate to have such a wonderful employee in Grant.

“He’s shown immense loyalty to our family and has consistently gone above and beyond, being talented in all manner of things work-related and also non-work-related.

“These range from knowing where all the stop cocks and field drains are to an incredible ability to find things, including lost hens, dogs and even our daughter when she was very small and got lost playing ‘kick the can’.

“He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of country lore and is the lynchpin of all that goes on at Middleton.”

The award was presented at the Scottish Game Fair and SLE chief executive Sara-Jane Laing said: “Twenty-five years of unbroken service is a major achievement.  Grant’s dedication has proved immensely beneficial for the estate.  It is very fitting he should be recognised wit the award, and I would like to add my congratulations.”

This article appeared in The Courier on 24 July 2025