Council Convener Pays Tribute to Former Councillor

Orkney Islands Council Convener Graham Bevan has paid tribute to former Stromness Councillor John Flett Brown, who passed away last week.

Mr Brown served on the Council from 1994 to 2003 , representing Stromness Central from 1994 to 1999 and then Stromness North to 2003.

He was appointed Vice Chair of the Recreation and Cultural Services Committee from June 1994 to May 1996, when he stepped up to Chair, and remained Chair of that Committee until he stepped down from the Council in 2003 - a committee which oversaw the building of the Pickaquoy Leisure Centre.

Councillor Bevan said: "Orkney Islands Council was saddened to hear of the death of Dr John Brown, The Park , Stromness. John was an eminent geologist whose lifelong love for his subject saw him as a key contributor to the discovery of oil  fields across the world.

"On his return to Stromness from his world travels, he continued to use his expertise and enthusiasm at a local level through the geology and cultural heritage of Orkney. He was at his happiest when yielding his hammer around the west coast of Orkney looking out and sharing his knowledge of local fossil beds.  

“His academic geological studies work has been published  widely and he has been central to contributing to the success of  the Orkney Fossil Centre and the  Orkney International Science Festival. His interest in all things Orkney also saw him co-edit the collected poems of the celebrated local poet and conchologist Robert Rendall.
 
“John was always interested in local politics and he contributed strongly to the work of the Council over two terms. He was also central to the setting up of the Stromness Community Development Trust  to allow developments which would contribute to Stromness 's wellbeing.
 
"He was one of the great contributors to Orkney and Stromness life, his love  and passion for all things Orkney,  his untimely death will be a great miss to his family and the community.”
 
Mr Brown’s funeral is due to take place tomorrow (Friday 19 January).  The flag will fly at half-mast at the Council Offices at School Place tomorrow and again for the General Meeting on 5 March in tribute.