Charles Goodlad
Charles Alistair Goodlad (b. 19 September 1943, Yell, d. 16 December 2013, Trondra) was a businessman, academic, public figure, fishing industry pioneer as well as a Shetland Islands Councillor for Burra between 1994 and 2003. An obituary in the Shetland News described him as one of Shetland's "greatest sons".
Biography
Alistair, as he was better known, was born into a family of fishermen in Yell in 1943. After completing high school in Scalloway and the Anderson High School, he went to Aberdeen where he completed a degree in Geography. He then started a PhD into the Shetland fishing industry, which would later be published as Shetland Fishing Saga, which remains one of the most authoritative books on the industry.
He was appointed assistant professor at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada, in 1968 where he also partook in fishing. From this role he was headhunted by the United Nations Fisheries and Agriculture as a fisheries expert. In 1975, he moved to the Middle East where he set up a chain of cold stores. While in the Middle East, he moved to Saudi Arabia and became the General Manager for the Saudi Fisheries Company, a position he held until moving back to Shetland in 1982.
Back in Shetland, Alistair became a pioneer of the Shetland salmon industry. He founded Shetland Sea Farms in 1985 and sold it in 1990. He then bought the Burra Isle of Hildasay where his sole house still stands. During this period, he also chaired the Shetland Salmon Farmers' Association. He was the founder of Saga Seafoods, which became a major employer in Scalloway.
In 1994, he was first elected to the Burra and Trondra seat for the Shetland Islands Council. He held his seat until 2003. During his time as councillor, he was elected as chairman to the Council's Harbour Board and of the Lerwick Port Authority.
Political Career
External Links
| Shetland Islands Council | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Pottinger |
Member for Burra 1994-2003 |
Succeeded by John Inkster |
