Tributes / Former councillor Florence Grains will be ‘sorely missed’
TRIBUTES have been paid to former council vice convener Florence Grains, who died on Wednesday aged 92.
She has been described by former colleagues as a tremendous community stalwart and a “good, old fashioned and hard-working councillor” who served her community as an elected member for 30 years.
Photo: Shetland News
Florence was first elected as the member for the Tingwall, Whiteness and Weisdale ward in 1978 but lost that seat in 1982 when she was beaten by the late Cecil Eunson, another community stalwart.
Standing in the Aithsting and Sandsting ward she returned to the council chamber in 1986, the same time current council convener Andrea Manson was also elected for the first time.
Manson said: “She was a hard-working councillor for her constituents and had a huge interest in education and social care. She was just a totally excellent councillor and a really, really nice and caring person.
“She was the first female vice convener and she also served on the health board for a considerable number of years.”
During her time in the council she served on numerous boards and committees, became the chair of the planning board in 1999 and was appointed as vice convener and chair of the services committee in 2003.
In 2009, she gave a presentation to a council meeting that eventually decided not to oppose the Viking Energy wind farm planning application, urging her colleagues “to listen to the people on the ground” and predicted that the wind farm would be a bad neighbour.
The veteran councillor decided to step away from council duties in 2012 when she did not seek re-election again for the Shetland West ward.
She was however present at the count in the town hall and continued to closely follow council business for a long time thereafter.
Photo: Shetland News
At the time she told Shetland News she was “quite glad” not to be standing as she had plenty of other interests that would keep her occupied, such as the Shetland Heritage Association.
Florence was also the chair of the Althing debating society for many years.
One person who knew her well and saw her regularly until a few weeks ago is Westside councillor Catherine Hughson who described her as “such a unique lady”.
She recalled attending regular meetings of a craft circle where Florence would bring her albums full of photos which “were an amazing collection of history”.
She moved into the Westside care home last year after a fall but “remained very interested in everything that went on”, Hughson said.
Florence was unfortunately unable to join the civic reception in the Lerwick Town Hall when her son Calum was handed the freedom of the town as part of this year’s Up Helly Aa celebrations.
“She was always very appreciative for anything anybody would do for her,” Hughson added.
“She will be sorely missed by everybody in the community.”
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