The outgoing convener of Orkney Islands Council addressed a final general meeting of the current council today, reading a short poem he had written for the occasion.
Today’s brief special general meeting of the council lasted only around seven minutes.
The only items on the agenda were the draft minutes for other meetings, such as the local review board, the planning committee, and the special policy and resources meeting held last week.
The current convener Harvey Johnston – a councillor for the West Mainland – is not seeking re-election at the council elections on May 5.
He has often addressed significant moments over the five-year council term with his poetry, written in Orcadian dialect.
Outgoing convener marks end of council era with poetry
At the end of today’s meeting, he said: “This is the last meeting of this council after five years and I have a short statement here, by way of the final curtain, as it were.”
He then read a piece titled ‘The Chain and the Chair’:
We must not be forlorn, as we meet this fine morn
And wur last resolutions declare
As the end quickly nears, O’ five marvellous years
I’ve minded the Chain and the Chair.
As this council wears done, Hid is worth mindan on
Half a decade’s achievements we share
What an honour hid’s been, Members here tae convene
In front o’ the Chain and the Chair.
In the chambers we see, nightly on the TV
The behaviour cheust maks me despair
Here I gladly reflect, at the grace and respect
Shown each other, the Chain and the Chair.
Many fine folk I’ve met: sights I’ll never forget
I’ve been privileged beyond compare
But dear freends I doot, hid is time tae bow oot
And pass on the Chain and the Chair.
Councillor Johnston’s address was met with enthusiastic applause from those in the meeting at the Orkney council chamber.
Orkney council convener’s address met with applause
An approximate translation of the poem, to standard English:
We must not be forlorn, as we meet this fine morn
And our last resolutions declare
As the end quickly nears, of five marvellous years
I’ve minded the Chain and the Chair.
As this council wears done, it’s worth remembering
Half a decade’s achievements we share
What an honour it’s been, members here to convene
In front of the Chain and the Chair.
In the chambers we see, nightly on the TV
The behaviour just makes me despair
Here I gladly reflect, at the grace and respect
Shown each other, the Chain and the Chair.
Many fine folk I’ve met: sights I’ll never forget
I’ve been privileged beyond compare
But dear friends, I’m afraid it is time to bow out
And pass on the Chain and the Chair.
