Suma Profi post driver customers don’t come any more full of life than William Douglas of Lilliesleaf, between Hawick and Melrose in the Scottish Borders. William has just retired (at 74), and his son, also William, is now the boss.

He’s the fourth generation William to be in charge,’ says the lively septuagenarian. ‘My grandfather started out in the early 1900s and was originally fencing for a timber merchant called Turnbull. Today it is William and my middle son Neil who are involved and we also employ one other man. Our work is all agricultural fencing from plain wires to stock netting, electric fencing and post and rail, and we carry out work throughout the area and further afield too. We became contractors for Border Union Show in 1944 and we haven’t stopped since. All of my pals are farmers.’ As well as Border Union Show the business - William Douglas & Son - also provides all the show ring and penning for the Scottish Horse Show and Kelso Ram Sales. With the work they undertake, particularly at show times, getting it done quickly is very important. That’s why having the right machine is vital to their business. ‘I’ve known Jock for a long time,’ says William.

‘The Suma Profi we bought from him is a fantastic machine that we use all the time. It is just so quick and makes the job much easier. My father was a great believer in the fact that hard work never killed anybody. It was an age when men lived out in huts and tents in order to finish a job. Thankfully machines such as the Suma Profi make the work a lot less hard than it once was. We have taken it right down to Hexham in Northumberland as well as using it throughout the Borders. It is excellent for us.’

It is good to see a company like William Douglas offering a service and quality of workmanship which sets an example to all within the fencing industry.