Tributes were paid to long-standing SNP councillor Joanna Strathdee at yesterday’s by-election by people from all sides of the political spectrum.
The Huntly politician served the region for 16 years and was head of the local authority’s SNP group from 2007-2010.
She was aged 60 when she lost her five-and-a-half year battle with cancer on August 23, and had continued in her role serving the community into her final days.
Fellow councillor Alastair Ross decided to step down due to ill health earlier this year having served as a councillor since 2007.
Newly-elected Conservative councillor Margo Stewart said Mrs Strathdee had been a close friend despite their differing political views.
She said: “She was a friend to me as well. I had a fair bit to do with Joanna in the past, not just in politics but I am also the chairwoman of Macmillan Cancer Support in Huntly.
“Joanna was involved with the Huntly Cancer Support Centre and the two were interlinked.
“Joanna was non-political when she wanted to be and she listened to all views. She made up her own mind, she was just a unique person.”
New SNP councillor Gwyneth Petrie said she now had “big shoes to fill”, adding: “We’ve worked hard for the last three weeks and it is great testament to Joanna’s hard work as well that we have managed to win.
“I worked with Joanna and campaigned beside her since I was a young teen so hopefully I have learned enough through that process as well to be able to work as hard as she did and do the job in the way she did as well.”