Arthur Johnson
Arthur 'Ertie' Johnson (b. 7 September 1888, Weathersta, Delting, d. 12 October 1978, Lerwick) was a draper at 109 Commercial Street, (currently Millers Opticians) a Lerwick Town Councillor sporadically between 1941 and 1967 and a County Councillor between 1967 and 1970. Much of his appointments to the Lerwick Town Council were through by-elections.
He was the convener of the Finance Committee, 1 July 1947 and Dean of Guild on 9 May 1952
Initially, he was elected in 1941, and was a councillor until 1945. He was then elected soon after via a by-election in the same year and lasted until 1949. Once again, he was by-elected into the council in the same year and represented until 1955. For the third time in a row, he was elected once again soon after the 1955 election, and was in the council until 1958 when he failed to get elected. Following a resignation in the council he was once again co-opted into the council in 1958 and represented until 1961. His final stint, and his most stable, was between 1962 and 1967. Following his on-and-off Town Council experience, he spent his final 3 years in public life as a County Councillor for Fetlar (1967-1970). In his later years, he stayed in the St. Magnus rectory, although not through having a religious background.
He unsuccessfully contested the 1938, 1945, 1949, 1955, 1958, 1961 and the 1967 Lerwick Town Council elections.
Biography
Arthur ran a draper business in Lerwick and was a staunch supporter of the Labour Party. In his many candidatures in local government, he stood under the Socialist banner.
In 1953, when MP for Caithness Sir David Robertson proposed that Lerwick should be scheduled as a development area, the Scottish Secretary James Stuart concluded that he would not approved such an area. Arthur responded by suggesting that Shetland become a territory of the USA
"I am sure the United States of America would be very grateful to get the Shetland Islands as a static aircraft carrier"
- Arthur, January 1953
Political Career
Lerwick Town Council
- Lerwick Town Council By-Election July 1941
- Lerwick Town Council By-Election December 1945
- Lerwick Town Council Election November 1946
- Lerwick Town Council By-Election September 1949
- Lerwick Town Council Election May 1950
- Lerwick Town Council Election May 1952
- Lerwick Town Council By-Election May 1955
- Lerwick Town Council Election May 1956
- Lerwick Town Council By-Election June 1958
- Lerwick Town Council Election May 1959
- Lerwick Town Council Election May 1962
- Lerwick Town Council Election May 1964
Zetland County Council
External Links
| Zetland County Council | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles Brown |
Member for Fetlar 1967-1970 |
Succeeded by John Laurenson |
