Tribute paid to former Highland Councillor

Members and staff of The Highland Council have paid tribute to former Highland Councillor Lou Wilkerson who died peacefully this past weekend.

Lou Wilkerson was a Member of Highland Regional Council’s Libraries and Leisure Services Committee; sat on the Northern Joint Police Committee and was on the Board of Governors at Eden Court Theatre.

In 1999 she was elected to serve the Invergordon Ward on The Highland Council and became Chair of the Ross and Cromarty Area Protective Services Committee; and Vice Chair of the Ross and Cromarty Area Roads, Community & Protective Services Committee with responsibility for Community Development.

Civic Leader of the Ross and Cromarty Area, Cllr Margaret Paterson said: “My thoughts and sincere condolences are with her family who will miss her greatly.

“I served for a number of years alongside Lou and it was a great experience. Our paths first met while she was a Ross and Cromarty District Councillor and I was a Highland Regional Councillor, then we both served the Ross and Cromarty Area at the same time for Highland Regional Council and Highland Council.

“She was larger than life, with a tremendous zest for her Ward. She was always willing to promote and stand up for the best interests of her community and was committed to her public service.”

Councillor Roddy Balfour added: “Lou Wilkerson was an outstanding Councillor and a tremendous colleague to work with. She was very well informed and this allowed her to serve her Ward without fear or favour. My thoughts - and the thoughts from all of us that knew and worked with her - are with her family at this sad time.” 

Councillor Alasdair Rhind said: “Lou was very dedicated to the work of her constituents and served her communities so well. She was a formable character in every sense of the word and was a close allay with my late mother, Cllr Isobel Rhind - they thought highly of each other. She will be a sad loss to her family and the community.”