OIC Education chair pays tribute to outgoing executive director

Councillor Janice Annal, Chair of Orkney Islands Council’s Education, Leisure and Housing Committee has paid tribute this week  to outgoing Executive Director of the service, Leslie Manson, who retires on May 9.

The tribute was made as Leslie was reporting to his last ever meeting of the Education Committee yesterday, Wednesday.

In her remarks, Councillor Annal highlighted that she and Leslie had been appointed to their respective positions at the same time in 1998.

She said that throughout this time they had enjoyed a relatively easy relationship and that she had found Leslie to be hugely supportive, particularly of his staff.  She ended by saying that the Council had benefited greatly from his advice and experience.

Councillor Annal’s tribute was followed by a round of applause from committee members and Council officers.

Leslie Manson is the longest-serving of Scotland’s current Education Directors – and is Orkney’s second longest-serving Director of Education.  He was awarded an MBE last year in recognition of his services to Scottish education and the community in Orkney.