Councillor was Grampian-Houston Stalwart

Long-serving Vice Chairman of the Grampian-Houston Association, Councillor John A. Porter, of Aberdeen, died suddenly on 23 May 2007, aged 75.

He had been a strong supporter of the Association since its inception in 1979  and attended his last GHA Board meeting a week before suffering a fatal heart attack.

Councillor Porter, a corporate finance consultant, and his wife Evelyn paid their last exchange  visit to the City of Houston in 1997 and he donated the John Porter Trophy which is awarded to the winning lady golfer in the annual GHA golf tournament.

Since 1978 John had given unbroken service as an  elected member of the former Grampian Regional Council and  then Aberdeen City Council.   On 3 May 2007 he was re-elected to serve on Aberdeen City Council for a further four-year term and had been re-appointed Leader of the Conservative Group on the Council.

The many  tributes  paid to  the man and his public service demonstrated the warmth and affection in which he was held in the community even by those who did not share his political convictions.   Examples included:

“John was a gentleman with a sense of drive, humility and humour. There are few like him in politics and he will be sorely missed” – Aberdeen Evening Express

“He was one of that rare breed able to draw a clear line between the cut and thrust of party political debate and personal friendships. One of his great friends was the former Labour leader of Grampian Regional Council, Bob Middleton, who also died prematurely five years ago. The good-natured banter which flowed between them was a spectator sport in its own right. In a world where politicians are treated  - at best -with suspicion, he was a beacon of decency.” – Aberdeen Press and Journal.

“John Porter formed part of the very fabric of Aberdeen. He personified old-fashioned courtesy while being firmly of the 21st century. Above all he was fun and never failed to strew gales of laughter in his wake. In three decades as a Tory councillor, he had many rivals but not a single enemy, being genuinely liked regardless of political colours.” – The Scotsman