Background
Both sets of grandparents and parents were from Benside and I was brought up for most of my life in Cearn Fhlodaidh. My formal education began in the Stornoway Primary and the Nicolson Institute before studying in Glasgow University. After living in Glasgow and Edinburgh for a number of years, I worked in Malaysia as an English language teacher. I came back to the islands and set up my own language centre with a piping school
Commitment
After my experiences in Malaysia, I returned to the Outer Hebrides with a desire and commitment to put all the experience and skills gained into helping the community. I have been involved positively within the local community working on the StreetWork project dealing with young people with their various needs. I am committed to helping create an environment where all people from every background can realise their potential and make a positive impact on the local community.
Service
Being self-
Experience
- Elected prefect boy captain of the Nicolson Institute
- Chosen to take part in a Community Development project by the British Council to encourage leadership and community Development in the Middle East
- Served on the cross Parliamentary Group for China at the Scottish Parliament.
I have a passion for seeing the Hebrides as a thriving hub of language and cultural education. I would seek to put my ideas forward and do so with drive and commitment. I have a lot of experience in dealing with people with different needs and backgrounds and understand how tough it can be looking for work and facing the demands of an increasing cost of living. I want to help people overcome those challenges.
Community Needs
Our community needs to unite and work together to make it a better place for our
children and our elders. We need to grow in confidence and self-
Responsibilities
As a councillor, my chief responsibility will be to the community I am elected to represent. I hope to dedicate myself to work for my constituents. The role of the Scottish National Party elected representatives should be to serve the community or ward that he or she was elected to with humility and without prejudice extolling the vision of the SNP to empower the sovereign people of Scotland.
Special Interests
I have special interests in promoting traditional music such as piping, fiddle and accordion as well as promoting sport in the area. Education is something I am very keen on and especially issues facing young people in terms of getting into work and education. I really believe that sport and / or music are excellent for all ages and I want to try and make sure it is available for all. Having played football for Stornoway Athletic and latterly, Stornoway United, I now take part in the Welfare League. I run a Piping School for all ages on a Monday night.
Heritage
We have a Christian heritage which has provided our islands with a unique environment –a very positive place to live in and bring up children. Our history shows the islanders to be a welcoming, hardworking people – resolute and inventive while carving out a living in a challenging world. These values need to be maintained and I seek to uphold and encourage these values in a modern context.
I believe that I have the drive, the commitment and the desire to work passionately for the Stornoway North Ward. I hope to see you soon and welcome your support on polling day. I am committed to working totally and conscientiously for this community = this is my pledge and my promise.
Gordon Murray, SNP
Steòrnabhagh a Tuath / Stornoway North
