Governance

Born and raised in Caithness, I spent my early working life in wildlife management before embarking on a 30 year career with the Northern Constabulary, serving in various parts of the Highlands and Islands before moving to Orkney in 1992. For some years prior to retiring from the service in 2010, I was the Community Safety Officer for Orkney, representing Northern Constabulary on various bodies relative to community planning in Orkney.

I am also an active staff member with the Orkney unit of the Sea Cadet Corps and when time permits, enjoy landscape photography and field sports, particularly salmon and trout angling).

Married to Barbara since 1981, we have four grown-up children, two young grandsons and a lively black Labrador."

Originally from Glasgow , I moved to Orkney in 2008. I have wide and varied business experience having worked in senior roles in private and statutory organisations and running my own successful agricultural business. I have been the Vice Chair of NHS Orkney and served on the board for six years, resigning in 2018. I now run a local independent charity Age Scotland Orkney, who support older people living in their own home.

I am a keen member of Orkney Riding Club, I am married to John, we have five daughters and six grandchildren.

I was born in 1953 in Manchester and educated gaining a BA (hons) and then MA, all in History.

I worked in factories initially and then went offshore. I moved to Orkney 1982 to 1990 before going out for 5 years to work in Berlin for the British Army as a civilian. I came back in Orkney 1995 and worked at Scapa Flow Museum, Criminal Justice Sector and now councillor.

I am fortunate to have been born, brought up and worked all my life in Orkney. I served my apprenticeship and worked for 20 years at the Flotta Terminal. I spent several years working for OIC as Community Safety Officer before returning to Flotta and retired from post of Terminal Superintendent in 2021. I am married to Kathleen and have three grown up children, all married, and at the latest count, four grandsons.

I live on Eday, wife to Hamish, mum to Robbie and Jack. We farm at Heathercow and have the creel boat ‘Osprey’. I went to the Grammar School, stayed in the hostel, and came back to Eday and really got stuck into island life.

I work with the development trust on Eday, am on numerous community committees, part time postie and one of the islands first responders for Scottish Ambulance Service.

In my non-existent spare time, I love to cook with the favourite being a great big beef rib roast and all the trimmings made with all of our own produce. They say we should all have a happy place, and one of mine is when we go fishing for haddo’s off Copinsay, nothing beats it. I try to do my bit towards the Orkney goose problem, I enjoy visiting other islands and spending time with family and friends. I also just like being at home.

I grew up in the community of North Ronaldsay, attended the island primary school and then Kirkwall Grammar School.

At 18 I was lucky enough to take part in the Orkney - Hordaland exchange, where I studied “Musikk” in Voss, Norway. I then studied Ecology at the University of Stirling (1st class Honours) where I wrote my dissertation on the management of North Ronaldsay sheep.

On the completion of my studies, I moved home to Orkney where I have been living and working since.