Tributes paid to former Argyll and Bute Council leader after sudden death

Tributes have been paid to a former leader of Argyll and Bute Council, who died suddenly last week.

Councillor Robin Currie served as leader of the local authority from September 2020 until April of this year, when the governing TALIG (The Argyll Lomond and Islands Group) lost control of the council on a cut of cards after a disagreement on the council tax freeze.

The Liberal Democrat member served his beloved Islay, and Argyll and Bute more widely, for almost 40 years as a councillor - first with Argyll and Bute District Council and then the current authority.

He held a range of different roles during that time, contributing to policy and service delivery that supported life in Argyll and Bute in areas including housing, Gaelic language and economic development.

As well as his council committee commitments, he also served on a number of other organisations including the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board, Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership, and represented the area at COSLA.

Councillor Jim Lynch, leader of Argyll and Bute Council said: “I am shocked and extremely saddened by Robin’s passing. It feels almost impossible to imagine the council without him.

“He was devoted to Islay, and his huge wealth of local government experience served Argyll and Bute well in so many different ways.

“He was an inspiration in standing up for the interests of the area, of our islands and of different aspects of life that make Argyll and Bute the place he loved and believed in.

“He wanted the best for Argyll and Bute, and worked tirelessly to achieve that. Whatever challenges he took on in the interest of our communities, he could always be relied on to bring welcome humour to situations.

“For many reasons, Argyll and Bute owes Councillor Robin Currie heartfelt thanks.

“Robin – we thank you, for everything, and we’ll miss you.”

Chief executive Pippa Milne added: “So much of Robin’s work was about raising Argyll and Bute interests at national level, but his focus always remained firmly on delivering benefit for our local communities.

“He cared about people and he cared about the council’s role in making life better for everyone. He will be greatly missed.”

West Dunbartonshire Council leader Martin Rooney said: “I was sorry to hear of Councillor Currie’s passing. I know his loss will be felt not just by the people that knew and loved him most, but by the communities he worked so hard to represent over the past 40 years.

“My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues at Argyll & Bute Council at this difficult time.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said: “It is devastating to learn of the passing of Robin Currie. He was a liberal and a proud islander who always sought to do what was right and get things done for his community.

“Robin’s decades of public service showed the mark of his character and he will be missed.”

Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael added: “This is very shocking and sad news. Robin Currie was a lovely man and totally committed to his work as a councillor.

“Robin was a tireless and passionate campaigner for his community and the causes about which he cared but he managed to do it in a way that brought people together rather than divided them. In his recent time as leader of the council, he demonstrated that he was a skilled and effective political operator and negotiator.

“That he continued to be re-elected to Argyll and Bute Council for nearly forty years speaks for itself as a tribute to the work he did. He will be missed by his many friends and colleagues across Scotland but nowhere more so than in Islay.”