With great sadness we learned this morning of the sudden passing of Councillor Robin Currie.
Robin served his beloved Islay, and Argyll and Bute more widely, for almost 40 years as a councillor with Argyll and Bute Council, and Argyll and Bute District Council before that.
He held different roles during that time, contributing to policy and service delivery that supported life in Argyll and Bute in areas as vital as housing, Gaelic language and economic development.
As well as a devoted local councillor, he took on Policy Lead roles, served as Leader of the Council from September 2020 to April 2024, and ultimately one of the Depute Leaders of the Council.
Councillor Jim Lynch, Leader of Argyll and Bute Council:
“I am shocked and extremely saddened by Robin’s passing. It feels almost impossible to imagine the council without him. He was devoted to Islay, and his huge wealth of local government experience served Argyll and Bute well in so many different ways.
He was an inspiration in standing up for the interests of the area, of our islands and of different aspects of life that make Argyll and Bute the place he loved and believed in.
He wanted the best for Argyll and Bute, and worked tirelessly to achieve that. Whatever challenges he took on in the interest of our communities, he could always be relied on to bring welcome humour to situations.
For many reasons, Argyll and Bute owes Councillor Robin Currie heartfelt thanks.
Robin – we thank you, for everything, and we’ll miss you.”
Chief Executive Pippa Milne said:
“So much of Robin’s work was about raising Argyll and Bute’s interests at national level, but his focus always remained firmly on delivering benefit for our local communities. He cared about people and he cared about the council’s role in making life better for everyone. He will be greatly missed.”
Ends
Additional detail:
- Councillor Robin Currie represented the Kintyre and the Islands ward.
- His experience included Policy Lead roles covering planning, leisure, islands issues, Gaelic, roads, housing, rural growth, and population challenges.
- As well as his council committee commitments, he also served on a number of other organisations including the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Integration Joint Board, Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership, the Northern Roads Collaboration, HITrans, the Crofting Commission and many more. He also chaired the Financial Inclusion and Advice Group and the Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing Forum.
- Councillor Currie represented the council at COSLA Leaders and previously served on the COSLA Environment and Economy and Community Wellbeing policy boards.