Tributes paid to Stromness and South Isles councillor

Tributes have been paid to Stromness and South Isles councillor John Eccles, who died yesterday.

Mr Eccles moved to Orkney early in the 1970s, taking up a teaching post in Eday. In 1975, he became headteacher at the Dounby School before moving on to assume the same role at North Walls Junior High – being instrumental in the design and set up of those two community schools.

Living in Hoy, he went on to develop his own businesses in fish farm production and research.

He was elected to Orkney Islands Council in 2007. There, he served as chairman of the council’s education committee and previously as chairman of the Orkney Ferries board.

Describing him as a  “passionate advocate for Orkney”, OIC convener, Councillor Stephen Hagan said: “John will be much missed by fellow councillors and by the entire team at OIC. I would like to express all of our sympathies to John’s family and his many friends.”

The flag at the council offices in Kirkwall is being flown at half mast as a mark of respect.