Senior ECS official dies aged 59

Hector Robertson, The Highland Council’s Education Culture and Sport Manager for Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey, has died at the age of 59 following a long battle with illness.

He leaves a wife Mary, and a grown up son and daughter.

Mr Robertson, who hailed from Lochaber,  was assistant head teacher of Kirkwall Grammar School, Orkney and held a post of education officer with Orkney Islands Council before moving to the Highlands, where he served for seven years as Education Manager for Lochaber.  He moved to Inverness in 2003 as Education Culture and Sport Manager for Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey.

Hugh Fraser, Director of Education Culture and Sport said:  “Hector had been battling serious ill health very privately and very bravely for a number of years.  During his long period of illness he worked tirelessly and cheerfully for the good of the young people and communities of the Highlands.  Hector was an exceptionally loyal colleague who always went the extra mile for others.”

Convener Sandy Park paid tribute to Mr Robertson at the start of today’s meeting of the Council’s Resources Committee.  He said: “Hector was an exceptional official, who was most efficient in the way he went about his business and a great help to elected members. He was also excellent in dealing with the public, at often heated public meetings. He will be sorely missed and our thoughts at this time go out to his family and close friends.”

Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of the Council’s Administration said:  “Hector was a personal friend, with a love of hill walking, as well as being one of our very best officers. When he was the Lochaber Education Manager we worked closely together to massively expand nursery and pre-school facilities throughout Lochaber as well as ensuring that Ardnamurchan High School was built to fulfil all of the communities expectations.

“To ensure that the very best education was available, Hector worked extremely hard with teachers, parents, school boards and Councillors, helped by a lovely West Highland sense of humour.”