Colleagues pay tribute to veteran councillor John

Colleagues have paid warm tributes to veteran councillor John Rosie, who has died at the age of 80.

The former Rolls Royce worker and Caithness convener had been ill for some time.

Fellow councillors have shared his family’s grief, saying he would be fondly remembered as “a gentleman” with a great wit who cared deeply for his constituents. Mr Rosie’s political career began in the early 1960s when elected for Labour as a town councillor in Thurso.

After much local governmentreform, he became an independent Highland councillor in 1999, contributing at both local and strategic level.

One of his keenest passions was local health services and he served on the region’s health board for 20 years.

In later years he was a memberof the council’s audit and scrutiny, community services and licensing committees.

Council leader Margaret Davidson described him as “an energetic man and a terrific champion for Caithness and Thurso”.

Caithness civic leader Gillian Coghill said he was “a conscientious and highly effective councillor who stood up for the people he represented”.

SNP group leader Maxine Smith said: “John was a lovely man, well respected and liked by all his colleagues.”

And Liberal Democrat group leader Alasdair Christie said Mr Rosie was “a gentleman with a sharp sense of humour and always put residents of Caithness at the heart of everything he did”.

Mr Rosie’s daughter Deirdre Mackay is standing for election again next month as a Labour candidate, as is his son Karl – for the SNP.

Thurso-born Mr Rosie worked for Rolls Royce for 33 years in radio logical protection.

He died at Caithness General Hospital on Wednesday, 10 days after being admitted.

His son Karl paid tribute to the “professionalism and dedication” of its staff.

Mr Rosie is survived by his wife of 61 years Evelyn, daughter Deirdre, sons Karl and James, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

His funeral is at StPeter’s Church, Thurso, next Monday at noon.

“John was a lovely man, well respected and liked”