Stalwart Kintyre councillor Anne Horn retiring
‘I have seen the very best of people at the very worst of times and appreciate what a fantastic part of the world we live in.’
Retiring Kintyre and the Islands councillor Anne Horn said she is ‘so fortunate’ to have been a council member for the last 15 years, a role which allowed her to meet ‘so many amazing people’.
Councillor Horn, from Tarbert, is not standing for re-election when Argyll and Bute goes to the polls as part of Scotland’s local elections on Thursday May 5. She has decided, instead, to spend more time with her family, including her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter in America.
‘I was first elected in 2007 and that was a steep learning curve,’ she told the Courier.
‘Being a councillor isn’t always about making big decisions on funding or budgets; sometimes it’s a fairly small but important improvement in the everyday life of residents and that brings satisfaction.
‘It is good seeing family homes built in Tarbert and elsewhere. I appreciate families have been very patient waiting for good quality homes.’
She said she will miss some aspects of being a councillor and will keep in touch with the many friends she has made over the years, adding: ‘I will have time to meet for a coffee now.’
A regular at fundraising events and open days across the ward, often mucking in to help out, Councillor Horn said she will still attend most of these community events as she ‘really enjoys them’.
But she added that as well as spending more time with her family and friends, she will appreciate being able to get work done on her house and read the many books she has been accumulating.
‘I couldn’t start to thank so many people who have helped me as I would leave someone out,’ she said, ‘but I have seen the very best of people at the very worst of times and appreciate what a fantastic part of the world we live in.’