A minute’s silence to remember Armadale and Blackridge councillor Stuart Borrowman who died suddenly last week has been held by members of West Lothian Council’s executive committee
Councillor Borrowman died at the age of 71 on Friday. He had served as a councillor for Blackridge, the village where he was born, since 2003. Initially representing the SNP, he later became an Independent.
Councillors remembered Mr Borrowman as a friend and mentor.
At the meeting of the council’s Executive on Tuesday fellow ward member , and now fellow independent councillor Andrew McGuire, paid warm tribute and thanks to Mr Borrowman for his guidance and encouragement when he was first elected in 2017.
Councillor McGuire said: “I’ve had the privilege to be Stuart’s ward partner for seven years. That was always enjoyable but not always easy given Stuart’s intellect and fierce pride in the wards he represented.
“Stuart was larger than life, a fantastic character in the devotion he gave to many causes in our ward particularly Armadale Thistle and the gala days.
“I don’t think there’s a single person in our ward that Stuart hasn’t helped at some point throughout his 21 years in local government.
“I’m forever grateful and thankful to him for when I was first elected to the council as an enthusiastic 26 year old for him taking me under his wing and helping me to acclimatise to the rigours of elected office.”
Linlithgow Lib Dem councillor Sally Pattle said: “I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Stuart’s family and friends. Everything he did as a councillor was for the best interest of his constituents.
“I feel so lucky to have known Stuart for two years. He wasn’t afraid to ask difficult questions. He always stood up for what he believed would serve his community best.”
“We worked together on several motions and ideas. I respected him enormously. He was one of the brightest and funniest people I have ever met. I learnt from him the type of councillor I aspire to be.”
Tributes and condolences were also paid by Conservative group leader Damian Doran-Timson and by SNP group leader Councillor Janet Campbell.
The Depute Provost Peter Heggie also paid tribute to Councillor Borrowman at the opening of the Education Quality Assurance Committee on Tuesday afternoon. Councillor Borrowman was a past chair of that committee in the last council.
In the current council Councillor Borrowman chaired the Development Management Committee which sat last earlier this month.
By Stuart Sommerville, LDR
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