Born 18th May 1938 at Easter Bush
Died 12th March 2025 at Ormiston Mains Farm, Kirknewton
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Robert Lawson Miller, latterly known by all as ‘Robin,’ was born at Easter Bush in the parish of Glencorse in 1938.
In 1949, at the age of 11 years, Robin’s family moved to Ormiston Mains Farm, Kirknewton, and there he stayed for over 75 years. He attended Kirknewton School where he was the Dux of the School, before attending West Calder High School. Robin left School when he was 15 years of age and thereafter spent his entire working life farming the land.
During his time at Ormiston Mains, Robin received numerous approaches from developers wanting to buy his land but all were given short-shrift, Robin’s view being that the land was there to provide food, not generate vast income from property developers.
In 1963, Robin married Margaret (Margo) Nicholson, a marriage which was to last 56 years.
Robin had a love of the works of Robert Burns and, in 2004, he joined ‘Let it Blaw’, the Balerno Burns Club. He attended the Club’s annual suppers each year, usually in the company of Peter Henderson Snr. and fellow farmer Brian Rugg.
Robin donated some old farm equipment and a cart from Ormiston Mains to the Mossgiel Burns House Museum just outside Mauchline. On a later trip Peter and Brian, he again visited the Museum and took the chance to sit in Burns Chair.
Robin wasn’t the sort of man to have hobbies as, when there was nothing on the farm needing done, he was happiest talking farms and farming; it really was his Life.
Robin died at home, Ormiston Mains, on 12th March 2025 aged 86 years. There was a well-earned huge turnout at his funeral service at Kirknewton Cemetery. Robin’s sons, Robin Jnr, Neil & Kenneth are continuing to far the land at Ormiston Mains.
Then let us pray that come it may
(as come it will for a’ that)
That Sense and Worth o’er a’ the earth,
Shall bear the gree an a’ that,
For a’ that and a’ that,
It’s comin’ yet for a’ that,
That man to man the world o’er,
Shall brithers be for a’ that
