David Johnston

David John 'Davy' Johnston (b. 7 February 1913, North Sandwick, Yell, d. 20 February 1993, North Sandwick, Yell) was a merchant seaman, ferry operator and Shetland Islands Councillor for Yell North in the Zetland County Council and for Yell North and Fetlar in the Shetland Islands Council.

Biography

After leaving school, Davy went into the merchant navy and became the ship's carpenter. After World War II, he started a ferry service that linked Unst, Fetlar and Yell and operated this service until the 1970's when the roll-on-roll-off ferries were introduced by the Shetland Islands Council.

Davy was a singer/songwriter and he could play the fiddle and he owned a sailing boat called the Barann, with which he had considerable success at local regattas.

Political Career

He was elected onto the Zetland County Council in 1974 for Yell North, in what would be the last ever election held by that Council, which was dissolved in 1975 and replaced by the Shetland Islands Council. Davy also stood for the latter body, serving Yell North and Fetlar from 1974 until 1990. When a member of the Shetland Islands Council, Davy was the Chairman of the Ports and Harbours Committee.

His early politics were aligned to Labour, but he switched over to the Liberal Democrats. He was a personal friend of Shetland MP Jo Grimond and was one of his nominators for election.

Zetland County Council

• 1974 Yell North by-election

Shetland Islands Council

• 1974 Shetland Islands Council election
• 1978 Shetland Islands Council election
• 1982 Shetland Islands Council election
• 1986 Shetland Islands Council election

External Links

• Bayanne genealogy page

Zetland County Council
Preceded by Sandy Cluness	Member for Yell North 1974-1975	Council body dissolved

Shetland Islands Council
Constituency created	Member for Yell North and Fetlar 1974-1990	Succeeded by Andrew Williamson