Principal Committee Officer who's "part of the fabric" of council meetings to retire

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Alastair first joined the council after completing a degree in German at the University of Aberdeen in 1979. At that time it was Grampian Regional Council and he was successful in being appointed to a post in the mail room at Woodhill House, but he didn’t view the mail room nor the council as a permanent career choice. It wasn’t until he successfully applied for the post of Committee Clerk in the Law & Administration Department he was set on a career path which has lasted almost 40 years.

His colleague Niall David told us: “Alastair is almost a part of the fabric of Woodhill House. As a local lad born and bred (he attended Aberdeen Grammar School), he remembers a time when Woodhill House as we currently know it wasn’t even here. Instead there was a wood and the original Woodhill House, which was more like a cottage. He even played in the grounds as a youngster, such is the unbreakable link between him and Woodhill.

“He wisely chose to move to the successor Aberdeenshire Council rather than neighbouring Aberdeen City Council when Grampian Regional Council was reorganised in 1996. Since that time he has led the Committee Services Team as Principal Committee Officer and we are really going to miss him.”

Alastair has undoubtedly been to more Full Council meetings than any other living person and considers the Council Chamber to be ‘his room’.

Head of Service for Legal and Governance, Karen Wiles adds: “Alastair’s knowledge and experience of the decision-making processes of local government is second-to-none. He truly will be missed by colleagues, officers and elected members. He retires as one of the most respected and valued officers ever to work for Aberdeenshire Council. We wish you a long and happy retirement, Alastair!”

Alastair will also vacate his position as the chair of SOLAR’s national Governance Working Group.

Frances Brown, another colleague, said: “Coming to work in Woodhill House will just not be the same once Alastair has retired. He’s a great colleague and friend, with such a knowledge of how the council works. He is the go to person for any queries about decisions made by the council stretching right back in time!”

Elections Coordinator and fellow Senior  Allan Bell sums up: “Retirement will afford Alastair the opportunity to complete his Munro-bagging quest and, more locally, continue to familiarise himself with every single rock and tuft of heather on his favourite peak, Bennachie. He is a cultured man with a love of music, opera in particular, dogs, reading and fine dining. Undoubtedly he will continue critiquing the fare in local restaurants/cafes and generally holding the modern world to account. Come back and see us from time to time, Alastair!”