I wish to commemorate the life of Sir James Armour, CBE, FRSE who died in October. Jimmy Armour was the sort of person that most people would want to meet, and one who none would then forget. In my case the first meeting was at a dinner in 1988 to commerate the Diamond Jubilee of the Hannah Research Institute. I can clearly recall talking to Jimmy who, at that time, was intent on saving Glasgow Vet School from closure. Needless to say, he succeeded. His life was more than successful, it was exceptional on many counts, starting with his birth in Basra (Iraq) in 1929, continuing as a gifted and talented school and University student in Ayrshire and Glasgow and then pursuing a long and illustrious career in veterinary practice, research and education whilst contining to excel on the golf course. Jimmy travelled widely and his early career experiences in Africa, in particular, led him into the discipline of parasitology, at which he excelled. He returned to Glasgow University and, during the 1960s and 70s, was instrumental in establishing the Vet School as a world leader in that field. He became Professor of Veterinary Parasitology in 1976 and ten years later was elected Dean of Faculty. A highlight of his research career was his collaboration with Merck, Sharp and Dohme in the development of the broad spectrum antihelmintic drug, ivermectin. Jimmy was more than a researcher, however, and a great many Glasgow veterinary graduates will testify to his teaching skills, whilst all those who graduated in the 1990s and ever since owe their Glasgow degree to his administrative, campaigning and political persuasion capabilities. This was recognized by the University, and from 1991 until his retirement in 1995 he was Vice Principal with responsibility for planning and external affairs. He earned many accolades during his lifetime, culminating in the award of a Knighthood that same year, for services to veterinary science and education. Over the years that followed he continued to have a major impact on veterinary science in Scotland and the UK, at various times Chairing both the Veterinary Products Committee and the Board of the Moredun Research Institute. In private life he was a committed family man, husband to Irene and, after her death in 1988, Christine, and father to four children. Living for much of his life in Troon it was no surprise that he had a passion for golf, which resulted in his winning the British Boys Championship in his youth, qualifying for the British Open and being Club Champion numerous times at various Clubs including Royal Troon, where he was both Captain and, later, Honorary President. None of this, however, explains why I feel it right and proper that this exceptional man should be honoured in this Journal. For that we need to return to my first meeting, and to Jimmy's subsequent connections with the Hannah. The late nineties was a turbulent time in agricultural research in the UK, with funding becoming ever harder to obtain at a time when technology expansion was increasing the cost and competitiveness of research. From a scientific standpoint this decade was a very successful one for the Hannah, but as the millenium approached it was more and more evident that it needed to become more than just a research Institute. Accordingly, in 2000, the Hannah Research Foundation was created to capture and commercialise the fruits of the Institute's research. Jimmy was a Trustee of the Foundation from the outset, and continued to provide sage council and advice through all of the political turmoil of the next decade and beyond. Investment and grants were won by the Foundation and for several years the Hannah Research Park was a significant commercial success. Then, as the Hannah's governmental funding started to come under direct threat my meetings with Jimmy became more frequent and more important. The Institute closed in 2006 with most of the scientists moving into the University sector, but the Foundation continued and does so to this day, now as the Hannah Dairy Research Foundation. Jimmy continued as a Trustee until 2020 and was influential throughout his tenure. The fact that this Journal continues to serve a global research community and regular grants are made to support scientific research and dissemination is entirely down to Jimmy and his Foundation colleagues.