Tributes paid to long-serving Dumfries and Galloway councillor

Tributes have been paid to a long-serving Dumfries and Galloway councillor who has died at the age of 62.

Archie Dryburgh had represented Scottish Labour on the local authority since 2007.

A former Gordon Highlander, he worked widely with veterans and their families and was recognised with an MBE in 2019 for his services to the armed forces and the local authority.

Dryburgh - who represented the Annandale East and Eskdale ward on the council - received a lifetime achievement award at the Association for Public Service Excellence awards last year.

Council leader, the SNP's Stephen Thompson, said: "Archie was a deeply committed public servant who gave so much of himself to Dumfries and Galloway.

"He cared greatly about the communities he represented and about the serving personnel, veterans and families he worked so hard to support.

"Archie's personality and his willingness to help others earned him respect across the council and throughout our region."

The Labour group leader on the council, Carolyne Wilson, described him as a "much-loved friend and comrade" and said it had been a "privilege" to work alongside him.

"He brought wisdom, integrity and good humour in equal measure to everything he did," she said.

"No matter the challenge, he was someone people could turn to for honest advice, encouragement and support."

"He cared deeply about people and never lost sight of why he entered public service in the first place: to make a difference to the lives of others."

Conservative MP David Mundell and MSP Craig Hoy also paid tribute.

"I so admired the bravery and dignity with which Archie faced his health issues and I'm pleased I was able to tell him that myself when we last met on Armed Forces Day," said Mundell.

He said he always had "great respect" for him since first meeting him when he was a trade union official at the Chapelcross nuclear plant near Annan.

Hoy said he was a "respected colleague, a passionate champion for his community and someone whose warmth and friendship will be greatly missed".

Barbara Murray, who is branch chair of the armed force's charity SSAFA's Dumfries and Galloway branch, said he was a "well-known advocate for veterans" and had been a "great help" on many occasions.

"The veteran support community in Dumfries in Galloway has lost an important figurehead, and our thoughts are with his family at this time," she said.