SNP Announce New Team For Fraserburgh & District
>> 10 February 2012
LOCAL COMMITMENT AND EXPERIENCE
Broch teacher Charles Buchan and local businessman Ricky Sheaffe-Greene have been selected by SNP members in the Fraserburgh & District ward to join Cllr Brian Topping in seeking election to represent the town on Aberdeenshire Council.
Recently-retired Fraserburgh Academy teacher Charles Buchan comes from a fishing family and went to the white fish and herring fishing before studying at Aberdeen University. Charles is married with 3 children, has lived in Fraserburgh all his working life and taught at the academy for 43 years. After his retirement as Head of Physics, Charles works as the North of Scotland Verifier for the SQA.
Charles was formerly National Convenor of the Science Panel, and was involved in Special Needs work. He was given the Institute of Physics ‘UK Teacher of the Year’ award in 2009 for services to physics teaching. Charles was also a Scottish Government consultant on Higher Still.
Among his other interests Charles enjoys sea-fishing and walking in the Cairngorms. Charles has written on business and education for the Financial Times and The Scotsman, and has done research in medieval physics and theology at Oxford University.
A Shetlander by birth, Ricky Sheaffe-Greene is married to Caroline, has 4 grown-up children and runs Nortech Technology Solutions. Ricky has a strong passion for Fraserburgh and works hard to try and make it a better place by being involved in various groups such as the Business Association and the CCTV Working Group. Ricky is also a Director of the Fraserburgh Development Trust, which is working to revitalise the Broch.
Ricky previously worked for Scotnet during which time he set up a computer shop before establishing Nortech Technology Solutions which aims to support local businesses in their technology needs.
In addition to his work with Fraserburgh Development Trust and involvement with the CCTV Working Group and Business Association, Ricky is also involved in voluntary organisations and is Treasurer of the Fraserburgh Cats Protection League.
Completing the SNP team for Fraserburgh & District is Councillor Brian Topping. Brian has been elected to serve his constituents at every local election since 1984 and is currently Fraserburgh & District’s only SNP councillor.
Brian is Chairperson of the CCTV Working Group which has brought the award-winning cameras to the town to help the police detect crime. He is a Fraserburgh Harbour Commissioner, a Director of the Lighthouse Museum and Aberdeenshire Housing Partnership and a Director and presenter of Kinnaird Radio.
Brian’s interest in and support for community safety issues is well-known and he is currently President of the Scottish Accident Prevention Council. Brian is also involved in numerous community groups such as Community Councils, parent councils, sports groups and carries out a lot of fundraising for local charities and groups including the RNLI and FISSH. An avid football fan, Brian can be found at Bellslea Park most home matches.
Charles Buchan; Ricky Sheaffe-Greene and Cllr Brian Topping |
Commenting on his selection, Charles Buchan said:
“I am delighted to have been selected by the local SNP members to contest the election in my home area.
“A sense of community is important and having served Fraserburgh Academy and those who have passed through it over four decades, I am offering myself for election to serve the wider community and work as part of a team for Fraserburgh, Inverallochy, Cairnbulg and district.”
Ricky Sheaffe-Greene commented:
“It’s a great honour for me to have been adopted as a candidate for Fraserburgh & District.
“I’m proud to be standing for the SNP and alongside Brian Topping who has an exceptional record of achievement and community involvement in this ward. I believe that a strong team working together for the good of the community is what is needed in these difficult times.”
Welcoming Charles and Ricky to the SNP team, Councillor Brian Topping said:
“In Charles and Ricky we have two people who have consistently shown their commitment to the community both through their work and their voluntary activities and I’m delighted that we have secured candidates of such high calibre.
“I have worked closely with Ricky to bring CCTV to Fraserburgh which has been an overwhelming success in the fight against crime. Charles has devoted 43 years to teaching at Fraserburgh Academy and has been rightly recognised nationally for his work and commitment to young people.
“I hope that the electors of Fraserburgh & District will return all three of us as a strong SNP team so that the SNP can continue to deliver for our local communities.”
Local MSP Stewart Stevenson added:
“I think the important thing here is the emphasis that Charles, Ricky and Brian have placed on working together as a team for the benefit of Fraserburgh, Inverallochy, Cairnbulg and the rest of the Ward. That is something which has been lacking on the council in recent years and has been noted by the electorate.
“These are three excellent candidates whose track record of community involvement and activism speaks for itself and I wish them well.”
Note: Institute of Physics website article which describes Charles Buchan as “an inspirational physics teacher” and recognised for his “exciting and relevant” lessons and for enthusiastically supporting his colleagues within and beyond the school. His citation adds: “He is a highly respected member of the community in which he teaches and has consistently provided and quality learning experience for all pupils in his care in a supportive, considerate and stimulating manner.” Is available here: