Councillor Kelly’s top capital commendation
A councillor has received a national commendation for his contribution to Kintyre causes in the past 17 years. Councillor Donald Kelly, who was first elected, to South Kintyre in 2001, was highly commended at the Local Government Information Unit (LGiU) Councillor Achievement Awards, sponsored by CCLA Investment Management. Mr Kelly attended Scotland’s inaugural awards ceremony on Thursday November 29, at Edinburgh’s City Chambers, with his daughter Bethany who is studying at the capital’s Napier University. He said he was ‘very surprised’ to receive a special mention at the ceremony, where eight awards were up for grabs, narrowly missing out on being named rural community champion. Campaigns Mr Kelly has been involved in are Campbeltown Hospital’s Save Our Beds, preventing the closure of Kintyre’s rural schools, the A83 campaign, the community buyout of MACC, and the installation and renovation of various play parks. Award organisers specifically mentioned Councillor Kelly’s ‘instrumental’ role in the Kintyre Kidney Dialysis Group which successfully fundraised for dialysis machines at Campbeltown Hospital, preventing patients from travelling to Glasgow for treatment three times a week. Mr Kelly told the Courier: ‘It has been an honour and a privilege to have served the community of South Kintyre for the past 17 years. ‘I’m delighted to have been nominated by my constituents for this award.’ Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Jonathan Carr-West, chief executive of LGiU, said: ‘Councillor Kelly has demonstrated huge talent and dedication. ‘The outstanding quality of the nominations we received this year stands as a testament to the exceptional job many councillors are doing for their community.’ The keynote address at the Councillor Achievement Awards, the only national ceremony recognising and rewarding the efforts of councillors from across the political spectrum, was by Kevin Stewart MSP.