Council / Tributes paid to three late former councillors
SIC convener Andrea Manson has paid tribute to three late councillors who passed away recently.
At a meeting of the full council on Monday, the convener first paid tribute to Geoff Feather.
Although he had links to Northmavine, Feather was elected to represent the ward of Lerwick Upper Sound, Gulberwick and Quarff in May 2003.
During his time at the council he served on a number of committees including the newly formed scrutiny committee which monitored how council decisions were being implemented.
Manson said Feather moved to Shetland in the late 1960s and owned the former shop in Urafirth before taking on a role at Sullom Voe Terminal.
However, the convener said Feather had remarked that his favourite job had been working in the fish markets in Lerwick and Scalloway.
Manson said Feather, who passed away in November, would be “greatly missed”.
The convener also paid tribute to the late Gordon Mitchell, who died in December.
He was a former chief helicopter pilot of Bristow who made his home in Bigton.
Flying the search and rescue helicopter at the time, Mitchell and his crew were the first on the scene of the tragic Chinook accident in November 1986 in which 45 people died around two and half miles off Sumburgh.
He was a councillor in the south end for eight years from 1999 to 2007, again working on a number of committees.
Manson said Mitchell was a “very committed and dedicated councillor” who had a passion for housing.
He was well known for his work with Hjaltland Housing Association, with Manson describing him as a “stalwart supporter for tenants’ rights”.
Finally Manson also paid tribute to former Unst councillor Elizabeth Nicolson, who passed away recently.
She was the councillor for Unst in the 1980s and served on several council committees during her term.
Manson described her as a “hard working councillor” as well as a “people person” who more latterly enjoyed running a B&B in Baltasound.
She added that the attendance at her recent funeral service showed the high regard Nicolson was held in.
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