A former brake man for the Bristish bob-sleigh team, he studied farming in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand before returning to farm black-faced sheep on the Lammermuirs in Berwickshire. A lifetime devotee of the countryside and its sports, Johnny is an excellent horseman, a keen shot and passionate supporter of country issues. Johnny currently farms hill sheep in the Hermitage Valley near Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders.

 He is currently:

• Joint Master of The North Pennine Hunt
• President of the Newcastle and District Wildfowlers Association 
• Founder Member of The Cholmondeley Coursing Club
• President of The Union of Country Sports Workers
• President of The Gamekeepers Welfare Trust
• President of The Tay Valley Wildfowlers Association
• Vice President of The Heather Trust
• Patron of The Sporting Lucas Terrier Association
• Patron of the Wildlife Ark Trust
• Centenary Patron of the British Association of Shooting and Conservation
• Patron of The National Association of Beaters and Pickers Up
• Board member of The European Squirrel Federation