Convener’s tributes

SHETLAND Islands Council convener Malcolm Bell today paid tribute to two prominent islanders who passed away in recent months.

Bell kicked off Wednesday morning’s Full Council meeting by saluting the contribution to public life made by former councillor Alistair Goodlad. He also hailed the role of Shetland Folk Festival stalwart Davie Henderson as an ambassador for the islands.

Goodlad, who served two terms as a councillor from 1994 to 2003, died following a long illness in December.

Bell said he had a “global reputation as a fisheries and fish farming expert” and conducted a PhD on the Shetland fishing industry.

“Alastair was a great linguist, fluent in as many as six language and he also travelled and worked all over the world,” he said. “However, he was a Shetlander first and foremost, proud of his roots and our heritage.”

He then turned elected members’ thoughts to Henderson, whose sudden death on 12 January left the community reeling with shock.

“The huge outpouring of respect not only from within Shetland but also from those involved in the folk music scene worldwide, demonstrates what he achieved and the esteem in which he was held,” Bell said.

“Davie was a true ambassador of Shetland, described by those who knew him best as a ‘one-off’.”