A hard-working councillor has been praised for 50 years “unfailing” service to his community.
Councillor Ron Shepherd stepped down earlier this year due to his health – but his fellow Moray Council colleagues met him yesterday to thank him for his dedication.
His colleagues invited Mr Shepherd and his wife Dorothy to the get-together where he was presented with whisky, glasses and a letter of thanks from the council’s chief executive.
Mr Shepherd is one of the longest serving councillors in Scotland. He was first elected to Cullen Town Council in the 1970s, and then as a Justice of the Peace. After local government reform in 1999, he has served as a councillor in Moray Council for five terms – chalking up 20 years.
Fellow councillor John Divers, who was originally elected to the council at the same time, said Mr Shepherd would be missed right across the chamber.
Mr Divers said: “Ron was, and is, an excellent colleague.
“He always put his constituents first and worked very hard for them. He was on various boards in the council including working on the police, fire and community board.
“Ron did everything with a sense of fun, and he was always up for a laugh which made the difficult job of being an elected member a good experience. He was unfailing in his service to the community.”
Fellow councillor Gordon Cowie said Mr Shepherd was a true gentleman, adding: “I have known Ron a long time, I knew him when I worked for the council.
“He was always a gentleman, there for any advice and support and always willing to help.
“He is an honourable and sincere man who always put his constituents first.
“He always had a smile and encouragement for people – he will be missed on the council.
“He is such an honourable man that when his mobility started to fail and he was unable to attend meetings, he decided that he would need to resign. Other councillors might have just continued on, but not Ron. He decided that it was time to resign because he could no longer serve the people who elected him.
“There are not many great men like Ron Shepherd.”
