Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
I’m proud to be depute provost
Councillor Castles relishes new role
Coat bridge South councillor Tom Castles says he is “honoured and proud” to have been appointed as depute provost of North Lanarkshire.
The newly-elected representative was put forward for the role at last week’s inaugural meeting of councillors following the election.
He is now settling into his new role at the Civic Centre, and has already attended his first function in his new official capacity, visiting the summer arts festival.
Depute provost Castles said: “I’m fully aware of what an honour it is and I’m looking forward to representing the people of North Lanarkshire during this term in office.
“I’ll support the Provost in attending civic functions; the arts festival included theatre, song and dance with everyone working together. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Councillor Castles is new to elected office, but impressed Labour group colleagues to be proposed for the civic role.
He said: “I had a meeting with my fellow councillors and they asked if I’d like to be presented as depute provost. I was surprised at first and I’m honoured to have the trust of colleagues.
“The first thing I did was have a meeting with Provost Jean Jones [his predecessor as depute provost].
“She has experience of the role and made me aware of what it involved and I’ll certainly be looking for her help as I get started.”
Originally from Bargeddie, depute provost Castles has lived in Coatbridge for many years; and taught at local schools including St James’ Primary and St Bernard’s during the course of his four decades in teaching.
The 62-year-old, who is now retired, also served in the fulltime role of national president at the EIS teachers’ union.
He added: “That post included meeting members and addressing conferences and trade union meetings, so I think that will prove to be really good experience and help me prepare for this new challenge. I’m really looking forward to it and will be having a meeting next week to find out more about some of the functions I’ll be attending in the next few weeks and months.
“Everyone has given me very warm congratulations and I’m just looking forward to getting to know people all over North Lanarkshire and what they do.”
Council leader Jim Logue said of Councillor Castles’ appointment : “We met and interviewed each of the 17 new members of the Labour group, and asked them to outline why they stood, how they see the council functioning and what skills and experience they have from outside.
“Tom has a tremendous amount of experience, and we came to the conclusion he’d be able to do that job of depute provost.
“He’s a very rounded and experienced individual and can be very assertive.”