Maitland Mackie
- September 21, 1937
- May 31, 2014
- 76 years
About Maitland Mackie
Maitland Mackie, 76, Scottish farmer and academic administrator.
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Full Biography
|Maitland Mackie CBE (21 September 1937 – 31 May 2014) was a Scottish farmer, businessman, and entrepreneur. He held roles as vice-president of the National Farmers Union of Scotland and as a member of the Agriculture Food Research Council. He was a former governor of the Rowett Research Institute, and a former chairman of the Scottish Agricultural College Board. He founded the Scottish Pig Industry Initiative. For this work he received the David Black Award – the top honour in the UK pig industry. He was appointed CBE for his wider services to agriculture in 1991. He stood as a Liberal Party candidate in several elections. He was at the time of his death Rector of the University of Aberdeen.
Early life and education
Maitland Mackie was born in Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire on 21 September 1937. He was the third generation of his family to bear that name. His father was Sir Maitland Mackie. He was brought up and lived all his life at the family farm at Westertown, Rothienorman. He attended Daviot Primary School and Aberdeen Grammar School. He graduated from the University of Aberdeen with an BSc in 1958.[citation needed] He returned to Aberdeen University to study for an MA in economics which he achieved in 1971.[citation needed]
Career
On graduating, Mackie began working on the family farm which his grandfather had established in the late 19th century, moving to Westertown in 1912. When he assumed the running of the business he developed it to become a major farm and milk retailing business with a multi-million pound turnover employing 250 local people.
In 1994, Mackie rationalised the business to ensure that it remained competitive. He sold off the milk retailing section and diversified into the production of premium dairy ice-creams from the old farm buildings. The ice cream business proved successful. In 2014 it supplied all major supermarkets and had a 45% share of Scotland's premium ice cream market.
Mackie was a former vice president of National Farmers Union of Scotland and a past chairman of the Scottish Agricultural College. He stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate in the first Scottish Parliamentary election in 1999 coming third to future First Minister Alex Salmond. He had previously stood as a Liberal candidate in the first Grampian Regional Council election in 1975.
Awards and honours
In 1991, Mackie was made CBE for services to agriculture. He was awarded an honorary law degree in 1999 by the University of Aberdeen University. He served on its Court since 2000, was elected Lord Rector in 2011.
Personal life
While at University he met his future wife, Halldis Aslaug Ramm, the university's Charity Queen of 1958, who came from Bergen, Norway. They married in July 1961. She graduated as a doctor and practiced as a GP in the local area.
Mackie was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour two weeks after his wife died in February 2014. He died at Rothienorman on 31 May 2014 and is interred at the Arboretum. He had two daughters and a son.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitland_Mackie_(farmer)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 30, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Maitland Mackie's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the name of Maitland Mackie's wife?
- A.Bergen Norway
- B.Westertown Mackie
- C.Alex Salmond
- D.Halldis Aslaug Rammcorrect
Maitland Mackie met his future wife, Halldis Aslaug Ramm, while at university.
Source: Personal life
2.In what year was Maitland Mackie appointed CBE?
- A.2014
- B.1999
- C.1991correct
- D.1958
Maitland Mackie was appointed CBE for his wider services to agriculture in 1991.
Source: General biography section
3.At the time of his death, what role did Maitland Mackie hold at the University of Aberdeen?
- A.Governor
- B.Rectorcorrect
- C.Professor of Economics
- D.Chairman
Maitland Mackie was at the time of his death Rector of the University of Aberdeen.
Source: General biography section
4.When did Maitland Mackie move to the farm at Westertown?
- A.1971
- B.1912correct
- C.1937
- D.1958
Maitland Mackie's grandfather moved the family farm business to Westertown in 1912.
Source: Career section
5.What subject did Maitland Mackie study for his MA degree, achieved in 1971?
- A.Business Management
- B.Agriculture
- C.Law
- D.Economicscorrect
Maitland Mackie returned to Aberdeen University to study for an MA in economics which he achieved in 1971.
Source: Early life and education
6.How many local people were employed by Maitland Mackie's farm business at its peak?
- A.250correct
- B.500
- C.100
- D.50
Maitland Mackie developed the business to employ 250 local people.
Source: Career section
7.Who was Maitland Mackie's father?
- A.The Rector of Aberdeen
- B.Sir Maitland Mackiecorrect
- C.The founder of the Rowett Research Institute
- D.A farmer from Bergen
Maitland Mackie's father was Sir Maitland Mackie.
Source: Early life and education
8.How long after his wife's death was Maitland Mackie diagnosed with a brain tumour?
- A.Six months
- B.One week
- C.Two weekscorrect
- D.One month
Maitland Mackie was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour two weeks after his wife died in February 2014.
Source: Personal life
9.In the 2014 ice cream market, what percentage share did Maitland Mackie's company hold in Scotland?
- A.25%
- B.55%
- C.40%
- D.45%correct
In 2014 the ice cream business had a 45% share of Scotland's premium ice cream market.
Source: Career section
10.Which institution did Maitland Mackie serve as a former governor?
- A.Rowett Research Institutecorrect
- B.Agriculture Food Research Council
- C.Scottish Agricultural College
- D.National Farmers Union
Maitland Mackie was a former governor of the Rowett Research Institute.
Source: General biography section
11.What primary school did Maitland Mackie attend?
- A.Rothienorman Primary
- B.Aberdeen Grammar Primary
- C.Westertown Primary
- D.Daviot Primary Schoolcorrect
Maitland Mackie attended Daviot Primary School and Aberdeen Grammar School.
Source: Early life and education
12.In which location was Maitland Mackie born?
- A.Aberdeen
- B.Westertown
- C.Bergen
- D.Rothienormancorrect
Maitland Mackie was born in Rothienorman, Aberdeenshire on 21 September 1937.
Source: Early life and education
13.What academic degree did Maitland Mackie earn in 1958?
- A.Honorary law degree
- B.BSccorrect
- C.MA in economics
- D.Doctor of Medicine
Maitland Mackie graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a BSc in 1958.
Source: Early life and education
14.What product did Maitland Mackie diversify into after selling his milk retailing section in 1994?
- A.Pig farming supplies
- B.Premium dairy ice-creamscorrect
- C.Processed grain products
- D.Agricultural machinery
Maitland Mackie sold off the milk retailing section and diversified into the production of premium dairy ice-creams.
Source: Career section
15.For what specific achievement did Maitland Mackie receive the David Black Award?
- A.Founding the Scottish Pig Industry Initiativecorrect
- B.Services to education
- C.Leading the Scottish Agricultural College
- D.Political activism in the Liberal Party
Maitland Mackie founded the Scottish Pig Industry Initiative, for which he received the David Black Award.
Source: General biography section
16.Which political party did Maitland Mackie represent in the 1999 Scottish Parliamentary election?
- A.Scottish National Party
- B.Liberal Democratcorrect
- C.Labour Party
- D.Conservative Party
Maitland Mackie stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate in the first Scottish Parliamentary election in 1999.
Source: Career section
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