Ex-Provost John Smith, who helped make Aberdeen Europe’s oil capital dies

By Lindsay Bruce

March 22 2023, 7:00 pm

John Smith, former provost of Aberdeen and a life peer.

Former Aberdeen Lord Provost John Smith, who played a key role in attracting the oil industry to Aberdeen, has died aged 92.

As a dynamic and forward-looking city leader, his part in securing the position of oil capital for Aberdeen, when it seemed it seemed politically destined for Dundee, is inestimable, said one of his successors, Barney Crockett.

He was later made a peer, Baron Kirkill, in order to contribute to government at a national level, and served in a distinguished Scottish Office administration in the late 1970s.

Video: One from the archives. Here's what @LordProvostAbdn John Smith told @afneil about the oil boom in 1975. John Smith became Lord Kirkhill and is now retiring from the House of Lords after more than 40 years. @UKHouseofLords pic.twitter.com/LcL6GCN9Z7

— BBC North East Scot (@BBCNorthEast) April 25, 2018

John Smith served as provost of Aberdeen from 1971 to 1975 before a term as Minister of State for Scotland between 1975 and 1978.

Mr Crockett said: “John Smith was a huge figure in the history of Aberdeen and a significant national politician.

“He went on to be a central figure in running the Labour Party machine in the House of Lords.

“Throughout his life he was the most dedicated supporter of the Dons and a wise mentor to many aspiring politicians.”

Former Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said: “John Smith was a leading light in local government in Aberdeen when oil was discovered in the North Sea, and played an absolutely central role in making the Granite City the oil capital of Europe.

Lord Provost John Smith welcomes the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh to Aberdeen in 1974.

“The city council, led by him, saw off competition from east coast cities in both Scotland and England to land the jobs which have employed thousands of Aberdonians ever since.

“As Lord Kirkhill, he did a sterling job as chairman of the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board, which was a sympathetic supplier of power to homes and businesses across the north and north-east until it was sold off by Mrs Thatcher.

“After his spell at the Hydro Board, John continued as a very active member of the House of Lords for many years, retiring only when he no longer enjoyed the weekly travel between Aberdeen and London, at the ripe old age of 90.

Respect

“I know how much he was loved and respected by his Labour colleagues at Westminster, where he will be greatly missed.

“He will be missed too by his family and many friends in Aberdeen, where he remained a member of the local Labour Party and a keen supporter of the Dons all his long and fruitful life.”

Aberdeen Journals managing director KJ Peters is invested with his office as president of Aberdeen Publicity Club by Lord Provost John Smith at the club’s 1971 Christmas lunch in the Star Ballroom. Looking on is club chairman Alexander Mitchell.

The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Dr David Cameron, said: “I am saddened to hear of the passing of former Lord Provost John Smith, Baron Kirkhill, who was Lord Provost of Aberdeen from 1971 to 1975. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”