MP an MSP pay tribute to former Councillor and Ellon community stalwart Alan Cameron
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Gordon MP Richard Thomson and Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin have paid tribute to Alan Cameron, who sadly died on Friday.
Alan was a former Rector of Ellon Academy, former SNP councillor for the Ellon Town ward until standing down at the 2007 election, and a former Leader of the Opposition Group on Aberdeenshire Council, as well as being involved in many local community organisations.
This included Ellon Burns Club and Ellon Castle Gardens where he was chairman of the board from its inception until 2016 when he stood down and retired.
He was persuaded to return in 2018 in order to engage with the local community.
After more than 35 years in education – the last fifteen as Rector of Ellon Academy, Alan retired and went back to University to study Gaelic and Celtic Civilisation.
After graduation, he became councillor for Ellon on Aberdeenshire Council and latterly Leader of the Opposition.
During that time he served on the Board of Aberdeen College and was chairman of their Audit Committee and of their Company ASET.
Alan was also a founder member of several local organisations such as Ellon Burns Club, Ellon Historical Society and Gordon Gaelic Coir, he was also a past President of Ellon Rotary Club and Ellon Probus Club.
Richard Thomson MP said: “I first got to know Alan through politics and while his commitment to the SNP and Scottish Independence were unswerving, without a doubt his greatest public contribution was his decades of service to the town and people of Ellon, to whom he has left a legacy beyond compare.
“As Rector of Ellon Academy he had a positive influence on thousands of young minds.
"After ‘retirement’, he then went on to serve as a councillor for Ellon and for several years as leader of the SNP Group on Aberdeenshire Council.
"In addition to his steadfast dedication to the church, he was at the heart of many community groups and societies and most recently, was instrumental in securing the re-opening to the public of the Ellon Castle Gardens.
“Alan was always to be seen smiling at the heart of community events. An enthusiastic singer and scholar of Gaelic, he also put on musical evenings, bringing together artistic talents from all across the north-east.
"I had the particular pleasure of playing the fiddle for him at one such event, where the music to be played had been composed for him by Evelyn Glennie, whom he had taught when she was a pupil at Ellon Academy.
“The community of Ellon is so much the richer from the contribution that Alan has made over the years to the town and its people.
"He will be very fondly remembered and very sadly missed throughout the community. My thoughts are very much with his wife Elizabeth and their family at this time.”
Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin said: “I’ve known Alan Cameron since I was twelve years old.
"Like many people of my generation in the Ellon area, he will be remembered as our headmaster at Ellon Academy.
"A kind man who combined massive support for with strong expectations of his pupils.
“One of my most treasured memories of Alan will be accompanying him in 2016 to the opening of the new Ellon Academy; former headmaster and former pupil marvelling at the new building, and sharing memories of the old one.
“But Alan was much more than my former headmaster though - he was a family friend and a fellow independence campaigner.
"He was also a key member of my campaign team as I went for election in 2016.
"Alan loved to see his former pupils achieve things and I was glad to be the latest addition to his list - not being the first MSP he’d taught.
“I will miss Alan hugely.
"He was my friend, my mentor and a massive figure in Ellon, a town which he loved and gave so much to over the years.
"My heartfelt condolences go to his family and the legions of friends he had throughout our community.”
Tribute was also paid by the Trustees of Ellon Castle Gardens whose spokesperson Jane Gospel said: "The trustees, patrons, members and supporters of Ellon Castle Gardens would like to pay tribute to Alan Cameron following his recent death.
"Alan was Chair of the Trust from its inception in 2014 until his retiral in 2016.
"He returned in 2018 as Director of Community Engagement, a role which he carried out with great enthusiasm.
"Alan worked tirelessly to bring the whole community into the Gardens, where they could be uplifted by its tranquillity and connect with our local history.
"His fundraising efforts raised large sums for the restoration and improvement of the Gardens.
"Alan's passion and dedication have been instrumental in the success of Ellon Castle Gardens, making it a wonderful legacy for the community.
"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time."
