Sad news this week from Helensburgh. Ellen Morton, a councillor since 1999, has passed away.

Helensburgh and Lomond would be "a great deal worse off without Ellen Morton".

A tribute to the former Argyll and Bute councillor, who has died at the age of 76, is this week's Advertiser View: https://t.co/WQbJvMW5D1 pic.twitter.com/5JI4IdiXYz

— Helensburgh Advertiser (@helensburghadv) October 11, 2020

From the Helensburgh Advertiser:

She was first elected to Argyll and Bute Council as a Scottish Liberal Democrat in 1999, representing the Helensburgh North ward.

From 2007, following the introduction of a new system of local government elections across Scotland, she became one of three councillors representing the Helensburgh and Lomond South area, taking in the Colgrain, Craigendoran and Churchill areas of Helensburgh as well as villages and hamlets including Cardross, Ardoch, Arden and Muirlands.

In her 21 years as a councillor she served in a variety of roles, including chair of the authority’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee and depute to long-serving council leader Dick Walsh, as well as chair of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park planning authority and chair of the Northern Roads Collaboration.

She is survived by her husband Gordon, children Catriona, Aileen, Andrew and Fiona, and grandchildren Kate, Logan, Emily and Elliot.

Willie Rennie highlighted her humour and leadership:

Ellen Morton was a lady that you crossed at your peril.

She was quick, bright and, occasionally, sharp tongued and she was kind, caring and such a hard worker.

Her twenty one years on the council were colourful because she had firm beliefs and was a fierce defender of her constituents.

She will be a tremendous loss the Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, the Liberal Democrats but most importantly her loving family.

I personally will miss her guidance, humour and leadership. Thanks for everything Ellen.