Governance

Growing up I attended Glaitness primary and KGS, after which I went to University of St Andrews to study International Relations (2017-2021), and completed my MSc at Heriot Watt's campus in Stromness in Renewable Energy Development (2021-2022).

In council I have a particular interest in how local businesses and community groups can own and benefit from our economy, and the role they can play in the energy transition. Additionally, what opportunities there are for Orkney in the changing energy landscape and our collective need to decarbonise. Running across everything we do is the need to consider how we make it easier for young people who to stay in Orkney to do so, but equally how we can continue to make Orkney an exciting and vibrant place to be for our existing community, and those who come to join it from elsewhere.

In my spare time you can find me either out and about with friends, or playing badminton. Likewise, I'm keenly interested in our local music and arts scene and am a regular attendee of the folk festival, as well as being on the board of the Pier Arts Centre.

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 have had the great privilege to have lived and worked almost all of my life in Orkney. I was brought up and educated in Stromness Academy and from 1982 to 1998 I taught Mathematics and Computing at Stromness Academy. I retired from the Council in 2022 having spent over 20 years in the Educational Mangement. My wife Carolyn and our three children and grandchildren all live in Stromness.

As a child my playground was Stromness harbour and its surrounding piers and beaches.

Running a major harbour is a unique and exciting challenge for the Council and I have a pIassionate interest in the nautical and renewables scene and value my role as a member of the Harbours Subcommittee.

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 was born and grew up in Kirkwall. I was educated at Kirkwall Grammar School and Stromness Academy. On leaving school I joined the Bank of Scotland in Stromness, moving to the family firm in 1975. Following there I joined Royal Mail in 1989 where I stayed until my election in 2017.

I married Ony in 1975, we have two children Kevin and Kylie and five granddaughters Eilidh, Grace, Jennifer, Katie and Rhona.

I am Chairman of the St Magnus Church Birsay Trust. I enjoy reading and Sodoku and for my pains I support Aberdeen Football Club.

I enjoy following Orkney Ladies FC and have watched their progress in the league.

My main interest is my 5 granddaughters, keeping an eye on them as they journey through school and on to employment

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.