Tributes have been paid to long-serving Highland councillor Alasdair Rhind who has died suddenly.
Mr Rhind, 65, served the Tain and Easter Ross ward as an Independent.
He followed in the footsteps of his late mother Isobel who was also a councillor.
He was also head of the well-known Alasdair Rhind Funeral Director business in Tain which was founded in 1993.
‘Incredibly hard working’
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone has tabled an Early Day Motion in honour of Mr Rhind.
It reads: “That House recognises the great contribution made by councillor Alasdair Rhind to local government in the Highlands, in Tain and Easter Ross in particular; acknowledges that his recent untimely death has caused great widespread sadness; and further notes that his contribution to public life will not be forgotten.”
Mr Stone said: “I was desperately shocked when I heard of Alastair’s most untimely death.
“It seems like only the other day that it was my great honour to have Alasdair and Mandy to lunch in the House of Commons.
“He was incredibly hard working and a big friend to Tain.
“He did a very great deal for the town and the wider Easter Ross area.
“He will be a huge loss to us all. My heart goes out to Mandy and his family. I shall miss him.”
Mr Stone added: “Alasdair was a man of his own mind. While some people did not always agree with him, not one single person could argue with the fact he had the kindest of hearts.
“If someone rattled a bucket in front of him, whatever the cause, Alasdair would always dig deep.
“In many ways I can think of no finer epitaph.”
‘Committed to serving his community’
Highland Council convener Bill Lobban said he was shocked and deeply saddened by Mr Rhind’s sudden passing.
“Not only will we miss his extensive experience and countenance at council meetings, as a figurehead in his local community his passing will be a deep loss to many.
“Alasdair was committed to serving his community not just as a councillor but in many other ways.
“I extend my deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
Mr Rhind was first elected to Highland Council in 1999 for Ward 19 – Tain West. He was re-elected in 2003.
He was then elected to Ward 8 – Tain and Easter Ross – in the 2007 and 2012 elections.
He was serving a fifth term as councillor, having been voted in at the 2022 election.
In 1996 he stood unsuccessfully for the Invergordon ward in a by-election following his mother’s death.
Councillor served on many local groups
In 2017 he lost out to Liberal Democrat Jamie Stone who was elected as an MP.
Mr Rhind then regained the ward in a by-election caused by Mr Stone’s move to Westminster.
Following his most recent election, he served on the council’s Black Isle and Easter Ross Area Committee and North Planning Applications Committee, as well as the corporate resources, economy and infrastructure and housing and property committees.
He was also a member of the Tain Gala Association, Tain Initiative Group and Tain Task Force.
In 2018, he highlighted a problem with cremation in the north, claiming that grieving relatives were waiting up to a fortnight to have their loved ones cremated.
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