PROVOST Robert Moran says it has been ‘a huge privilege’ to serve as Inverclyde’s First Citizen for the past five years.

His term as Provost is drawing to a close as the local elections approach in May, where he will seek re-election as a Labour councillor.

Robert’s Provostship got off to a flying start with a visit by the Queen and Prince Philip to open the council’s customer service centre at the Municipal Buildings.

He recalled: “That was a tremendous honour for Inverclyde, and a great beginning for me as Provost because it happened the week after I took office.

“It was such a happy occasion for everyone involved, and the Queen and Prince Philip were very pleased with their reception from the public.

“I’ve also been fortunate enough to meet Princess Anne on two visits to Inverclyde, where she was also very well received.”

Another highlight of the past five years for Robert was marching with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders through Port Glasgow.

He said: “The last time they had marched through Inverclyde was in Gourock 40 years ago, so this was a really poignant occasion.

“I’m a firm supporter of Armed Forces Day, and I’ve also been given the honour of marching down the Royal Mile with the Argylls. We took 40 local people with us that day for the march, including children and ex-service groups.

“I also visited Edinburgh to attend the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and another memorable day was at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.”

The father of two has also enjoyed the many visits he has made as Provost to meet local people on special occasions, such as golden or diamond weddings, and to join many Inverclyde organisations of all ages at their events.

He said: “People like to see a Provost wearing his chains.
“It helps to make it a special day for them, and I’ve loved being a part of their celebrations.

“Being Provost is not a job for the faint-hearted, because it can be hard going. Sometimes I’m on the go from 9am to 10pm at local events and travelling around to Paisley, Glasgow, Stirling, Dundee and Edinburgh, for example.

“I try to accept as many invitations as possible to represent Inverclyde and to meet local people. Being a Provost transcends politics. People don’t see the Provost as being from any particular political party. He or she is the Provost, and that’s the way it should be.

“I’ve been happy to meet members of the Scottish Government when they held a cabinet meeting in Greenock. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon asked if the Provost’s Room could be made available to her that day to meet people and, of course, we were pleased to do so.”

Robert, 63, was born at the Rankin Maternity Hospital in Greenock, brought up in Bow Road and worked in several countries as a pipe fitter and steelwork superviser on oil rigs and shipyards, and was also a technician at National Semiconductor.

He was surprised after the 2012 council elections when council leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, invited him to consider becoming Provost.

He said: “Stephen told me he thought I would be ideal for the job, and I was honoured to accept.

“I had never imagined I would ever be Provost, but my late grandmother, Julie Donnachie, had told me many years ago I would become Provost one day. I was just sorry she didn’t live to see it happening.”

Robert’s political career began in 1994 when he was elected at a by-election. He lost his seat two years later, but returned to the council in 2003.

He has been a strong campaigner for people to make use of bowel cancer home screening kits – because doing so saved his life.

Looking back over the past five years, he said he was pleased at the investment in schools and play areas, improvements to Gourock town centre, the growth of Port Glasgow retail park and the rescue of Ferguson’s shipyard.

He said: “Looking forward to the next five years, I hope we can stop the decline in our population numbers and see continued investment in our infrastructure, such as the planned development at Inverkip on the former power station site.”

And he added: “I would like to thank the Telegraph for its help while I’ve been Provost.

“The Tele has been amazing in standing up for Inverclyde through the generations, and continues to have a very important role in this community.”