A retired doctor has been honoured for his tireless campaigning across the north-east.
Dr Norman Allan stood for the council in his hometown of Banff in 1986, and was among the first SNP candidates to win a seat in the region.
He served the old Grampian regional council for a decade before eventually retiring in 1996.
Today, he continues to campaign for the party. And this week, the former gynaecologist, 94, has been handed a lifetime membership to the SNP by its members.
Last night, Dr Allan said he was “extremely grateful” for the award.
He added: “I’ve been a member of the SNP since 1961, when I joined just before leaving for Canada – where I worked as a doctor at the University of Ottawa.
“There was an SNP branch over there that I was the secretary of, so when I came back to Banff, I was naturally involved with the party.
“I was then elected and served as a councillor for 10 years.”
In addition to serving as a councillor, Dr Allan was also considered for the role of rector of Aberdeen University in the late 90s.
He is already the honorary president of the SNP’s Banff and Macduff branch.
Stewart Stevenson MSP, who has held onto the Holyrood seat in the region since 2001, presented Dr Allan with his membership over the weekend.
He said: “It is fitting that Norman Allan receives life membership of the SNP.
“It is not simply he remains an inspiration to many generations of activists who have followed him, but also his significant public service as a councillor and physician.
“In his 90s, he has continued to campaign with a vigour that shows people a fifth his age how it can be done.
“And ultimately his innate good manners and politeness mean that he has a wide circle of admirers well beyond the party he has served with such distinction.”
Macduff councillor Ross Cassie last night described Dr Allan as “very active” within the community, despite his age.
He said: “We can all hope to be as active as him at that age.
