A popular Stewartry farmer died following a livestock incident on Sunday.
It is understood that Derek Roan was attacked by a cow at Barnbarroch Farm near Colvend.
His death has shocked the local community.
As chairman of Colvend and Southwick Community Council, Mr Roan played a huge part in local life.
Vice-chairman and friend Simon Pain said: “This is an absolute tragedy for all concerned. All I know is that it was a stock-related injury on the farm itself.
“Derek was well liked and well respected in our community.”
Mr Pain paid tribute to Mr Roan’s special talent for bringing people together for the benefit of all.
He said: “I think Derek transformed the role of the community council within the community.
“He made it much more active and helped develop a whole series of projects for the good of the community.
“He played a leading role in building the new recreation ground behind Colvend Primary School.
“And he led the way in community involvement, getting people together and moving people to help one another.
“That was especially important during the pandemic,
“A large part of all that was down to Derek’s leadership.”
Mr Pain added: “Derek was a leading light on our community council for a number of years, most of those as chairman, and in the Church of Scotland at Colvend.
“He was also an active member of the local curling club – he was involved in all sorts of things.
“Please convey the community’s best wishes and condolences to the family.”
Well-known in the farming community, Mr Roan was a past chairman of the Stewartry Young Farmers’ Club, former chairman of the NFUS Dumfries and Galloway regional board and chairman of The Solway Burns Club.
His family has been milking pedigree Holstein cows at Barnbarroch for six generations.
