Fond farewell as council leader Dick steps down

AFTER 40 years of service to Strathclyde and then Argyll and Bute councils, it was the end of an era last Thursday when Dick Walsh stepped down as both leader of the local authority and as a councillor.

Mr Walsh was praised by Provost Len Scoular for his work on behalf of Argyll and Bute, and the skills he brought to the post.

It was for finance that Mr Walsh would be remembered most by the council - at one time even called a ‘wizard’ by Councillor Ellen Morton, his one-time opponent and for the past three years his deputy leader.

A small number of councillors from the opposition group did not clap or stand up to congratulate Mr Walsh.