A FORMER Settle man has died in the United States at the age of 87.

John Burnett Davidson ('JBD' to his family), was destined to travel far from his birthplace, but was always a Yorkshireman at heart.

Had the war not ended in 1945, John may well have joined the Fleet Air Arm at 18.

Instead, following his education at Giggleswick School, where he was head boy, he won a place to study veterinary medicine at Edinburgh University, where he spent four happy years. His Scottish heritage was always very important to him and all his life he retained great affection for the country and its people.

Upon graduation, John joined the veterinary practice of Pugh and Bruford in Sevenoaks, Kent, where he would meet, fall in love with and marry Wendy Margaret Hood, with whom he had two sons, Duncan and Michael.

Away from the demands of the practice, John loved his sport, playing golf to a high standard and rugby for both Sevenoaks and Kent.

Single-minded and ambitious, his direction in life changed completely in 1964 when he was appointed head of research and development at Merck Sharpe and Dohme's UK subsidiary in Hertfordshire.

These were the early days of the company's development of several ground-breaking vaccines and medications in the animal health division, for which John was responsible. This involved him in extensive international travel, especially to the United States, where he and his family moved in 1974, following John's promotion to head of marketing at Merck's headquarters in Rahway, New Jersey.

In 1980, however, John and Wendy left for South Africa, where John continued his career with Merck as director of operations (animal health) for South Africa and Zimbabwe. After a brief spell in Belgium, he retired to the UK in 1987.

In later years, John and Wendy returned to the US and led a varied and fulfilling life in South Carolina where John, who had always been a keen sportsman, kept himself fit swimming and playing golf in the glorious climate and idyllic setting of Hilton Head Island.

In 2007, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, the debilitating effects of which he fought with characteristic resolve and great courage.

He was pre-deceased by his brother Malcolm and is survived by his wife Wendy and sons, Duncan and Michael.

A funeral service was held on Tuesday at Hilton Head Island.