News & Events

Sales Support Specialist - Will Hutchison

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Will Hutchison as Sales Support Specialist. As technology is integrated more and more into modern machinery it has become essential that our customers are getting the best support/advice available. Will's responsibilities will include support for AMS products, Sprayers and Combine Harvesters.

The Galawater cuts a deep path allowing the A7 to snake up the valley onto Fala Hill, where the landscape opens up, and the traffic spills over into the Lothian's and the Central Belt.  The journey perhaps leaves many frustrated and few take time to absorb or enjoy the steep grazing
and fields; and the geometric blocks of colour held together by miles of dykes.

Stow clings to the main road, a ribbon of development trying to find space on the narrow valley floor which is almost filled by the roadways, the river and the still silent Waverley line.  The village for generations was almost part of the farming community; a mill, blacksmith, shops, church and trades linked into the work on the land.  Today’s world of commuters, supermarkets, ready meals and DVDs is very different.  However the centre of Stow is dominated by rows of machinery, feeders and fresh green tractors, the engineering workshop doors held open by a stream of activity; the village is still very much at the heart of the farming community.  The team at Thomas Sherriff and the John Deere
brand underpin the workload on thousands of Borders acres.

Success is not easily won and more difficult to maintain; it is rooted in the people that drive the business and every day respond to the challenges on farm and in the workshop.

Dave Kellet started his working life as an engineer for Thomas Fairgrieve when the local firm dominated the village; motor engineers, millwrights; agricultural engineers and  electricians.  The small showroom was almost filled by a
vintage green Fordson and the workshops were operating in an era where mechanical linkages not electronic switches activated functions, the diff lock was at the cutting edge of tractor technology and cabs were an option.  The closure of the Fairgrieve family business was a bitter blow for the community and for several weeks the Cockholm Works lay empty.

The doors opened again under the ownership of Thomas Sherriff & Company and Dave Kellet was back at the centre of the workshop team.  Dave set the standards at Sherriff's; always available, never troubled by impossible demands, able to find time to explain or offer advice, the ability to magic a solution when normal options seem outof reach; real customer care.

More than thirty years later, we are in the electronic age, computer management systems and sophisticated transmissions supported by the same level of care.  Dave is still tall with that well worn boilersuit, key in hand, smile and husky voice.  Over the years I have watched or listened as he explained the depressing outlook as his fingers collected fragments of metal from an oiled housing; or eased off a broken bearing to get a machine
operational again or coaxed a fuel starved engine to life.  We laughed about the disasters or highs of farming and enjoyed the characters of Galawater.  But what is more remarkable he has shared similar moments and given the same support to my father and now to my sons Malcolm and Angus.  That family relationship is a tiny part of his reach into Borders farming.

Dave’s working life has spanned an extraordinary 50 years, all but a few days based at the Stow Cockholm Works.  Every day has been about giving his energy, expertise and good humour about being part of a team that is similarly motivated and being very much part of the farming community.  In modern terms Dave is a true professional but in reality he is bigger than that; he is one of the personalities which make farming special. 

Nigel Miller, Stagehall Farm - NFUS president 

DAVE KELLETT
 On Friday 20th January a surprise presentation was made by John Deere  at our Stow Depot to service manager,  Dave Kellett.
 The presentation to commemorate  “Thirty Five Years of Loyal Support to John Deere” was made on behalf of John Deere by Alan Kellett, Customer Support Manager. Alan acknowledged  that given the difficult nature of the job at times, thirty five years was a tremendous achievement and one which John Deere UK felt deserving of recognition, indeed it is believed no service manager has previously completed such a lengthy service.
 Dave began his working life with Thomas Fairgrieve & Sons Ltd at Stow in 1962 at fifteen years old before joining Thomas Sherriff & Co Ltd in 1977. After the presentation, Dave advised that he had enjoyed every minute working on John Deere Products amongst others and had been fortunate to have worked with a number of influential  people, none more so than the gentleman who made the presentation, Alan Kellet, (no relation he also pointed out).

For the latest list go to our Downloads page.

Xmas has passed, it's time to look forward to 2012. The Directors and staff would like to wish all visitors to our facebook page a very Happy New Year. 2012 promises to be a busy time at Thomas Sherriff & Co with many exciting field event days coming up including; grassland demonstration day, Tractor ride & drive days amongst them. Keep checking our page and our website for details.

We are pleased to advise that Thomas Sherriff  Co Ltd have retained the Cup for the best demonstration plot at this years Reston ploughing match with a Kuhn 5f Vari-Master 122. Well done lads!

Next week is the Lauder ploughing match, our colleagues from Stow will be taking the baton in quest for a clean sweep of victories across our trading area.

NO PRESSURE DONALD!!

Thomas Sherriff & Co were awarded first prize at this years East Lothian Ploughing Match for the "best demonstration plot". Using a Kuhn Vari-Master five furrow plough, driver Eck, commented that he was "impressed how easy it was to set up, and made a lovely job".

If you would like a demonstration of a Kuhn plough, now is the time to give your local branch a call. Sadly, Eck must return to his full time job :-)

With more than 550,000 units produced by the Mannheim factory since 1992, John Deere’s 6000 Series is Europe’s most successful tractor range. The newly styled 6R Series models now introduce new levels of power, performance and operator comfort, including improved suspension, unprecedented cab visibility, more powerful hydraulics and increased lift capacities. For added security, 6R tractors are also fitted as standard with CESAR Datatag and immobiliser systems, with a unique transponder based key.
Three large frame models are initially available, the 6170R, 6190R and 6210R, equipped with a Stage IIIB 6.8-litre six-cylinder PowerTech PVX engine rated from 170 to 210hp, or a maximum of 200 to 240hp with Intelligent Power Management (according to 97/68EC). This makes the top of the range 6210R the biggest tractor ever built at Mannheim, and the first model to be produced by the factory with over 200 rated hp.
This is more power than the existing 7830 tractor from the 7030 Series, yet it weighs 1.5 tonnes less, at under 8 tonnes, which provides the ultimate power-to-weight ratio for this category of tractor. Based on John Deere’s established full-frame design, these new models also have a longer wheelbase of 2.8m and can be fitted with larger Group 48 tyres with a maximum diameter of 205cm, the same size as 8R Series tractors.
This will help to deliver extra traction by delivering all the power to the ground, while at the same time minimising soil compaction, thus increasing overall productivity and performance. The heavy-duty rear axle also provides fast and stepless tread setting changes. A 2.25m tread setting is available for either fixed or adjustable wheels, with the option of a flanged or rack & pinion axle for extra versatility.
An optional front pto and an integrated front hitch with a lift capacity of 4000kg are also available ex-factory for the first time on 6R Series tractors, while maximum lift capacity of the rear hitch is 9550kg on the 6210R. The front hitch is fully compatible with the new John Deere H Series front loaders, which have been developed to provide maximum visibility and to match the new tyre size and tractor chassis dimensions. The loaders are available in non self-levelling (NSL), mechanical self-levelling (MSL) and hydraulic self-levelling (HSL) versions, with a wide range of attachments.
The loader boom suspension can be switched on and off from the cab via a button on the new mechanical joystick control lever, which can operate up to three independent hydraulic functions simultaneously. The new loaders also feature the established MemoSystem for automatic positioning of the bucket or implement.
John Deere’s fuel efficient diesel-only engine uses field proven technology to meet the latest emissions standards, based on exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT), with the addition of an exhaust filter that contains a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a diesel particulate filter (DPF), as widely used in the construction and automotive industries. An innovative distributed cooling system further improves engine performance.
Transmission options include the established AutoPowr continuously variable transmission, as well as AutoQuad Plus and PowerQuadPlus with SoftShift for smoother gear changes under load. The 40kph AutoQuad Plus EcoShift transmission can produce lower engine rpm at high transport speeds, to maximise operator comfort and reduce fuel consumption.
With the new AutoPowr drive pedal mode, the operator can choose between three different settings depending on the application or their driving style. Once the desired engine rpm is set using the hand throttle, forward speed can be independently adjusted using the drive pedal.
The new 6R ComfortView cab has over 20 per cent more space and a similar increase in visibility. It offers a completely new level of operator comfort, with features such as the 7in full-colour GreenStar 3 CommandCenter display with optional touch screen and video capability, adjustable air suspended seat, integrated climate and radio controls, Bluetooth connectivity and an optional panorama roof. The display is fully compatible with ISOBUS and tractor-implement automation (TIA) applications.
The right-hand CommandArm console helps to maximise productivity with hot keys for field cruise control, the iTEC automatic implement control system, transmission and pto settings, all hitch functions and MFWD controls. It also accommodates the radio, air conditioning and light controls. The optional all-in-one GreenStar 2630 display has a robust touch screen with backlit LCD, This enables powerful applications such as Guidance Pro modules, advanced ISOBUS capability, documentation and video monitoring of implements.
Further options include the new HCS Plus hydraulic cab suspension and TLS Plus triple link suspension for the front axle, to provide optimum traction and field performance. TLS Plus transfers up to 7 per cent more power onto the ground, and features +/-50mm of suspension travel as well as automatic adjustment of axle sensitivity and the suspension rate.
The new versatile lighting system on 6R Series tractors delivers 185 per cent more light output compared to previous models. It includes up to 10 cab lights integrated into the front, rear and sides of the roof line to provide 360 degree visibility, plus six adjustable belt-line and rear fender field lights, and six field, spot and road lights on the bonnet grille. Eight optional Xenon lights are also available, and all the lights are controlled from the CommandCenter display.