On market days in the post-Second World War years, Cupar Corn Exchange was a hive of activity with farmers and merchants buying and selling grain, potatoes, seeds and fertilisers.
Week in week out, Grant Balfour, who died at the weekend, could be seen in the booth where he represented the family firm of seed merchants Laird & Smith.
Even in those days where one’s word was one’s bond, Grant was universally recognised as one of the real gentleman in the merchant trade.
After leaving Bell Baxter where he proudly wore a Grant tartan kilt, he joined the firm with its shop in St Catherine’s Street and its store in Bobber Wynd.
It was in this latter building that he learned the skills of producing grass seed mixtures to suit specific instructions from farmers.
He joined up for war time service initially with the Royal Armoured Corps prior to heading off to Sandhurst for officer training and then, as a Second Lieutenant in the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, he trained crews to operate Churchill and Crocodile tanks.
Then he went over to mainland Europe to take part in the final push to end the war and served as a First Lieutenant in the Hussars until April 1946.
Back in civilian life he not only resumed his work as a seed merchant but either competed in or followed a number of sports.
He helped Wormit Tennis Club in getting new courts and with his membership of Scotscraig Golf Club he established the Farmers v Merchants annual golf match.
He was also a keen hill walker and he and Mary, whom he married in 1950, often combined their love of the hills with motoring around Scotland.
A man of many interests, in his retirement his time was spent in his garden, playing bridge, listening to classical music and attending Newport Probus Club.
He is survived by Mary, his son David and daughters Rosemary and Catherine, and their spouses and families.