George Blance

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George William 'Dodie Willie' Blance (b. 9 June 1905, Lerwick, d. 11 March 1977, Lerwick) was Headmaster of the Lerwick Central School, Lerwick Town Councillor, Convener of the Zetland County Council from 1973 until it's dissolution in 1975, the Guizer Jarl for the 1950 Lerwick Up Helly Aa and helped pioneer the Lerwick Junior Up Helly Aa.

He unsuccessfully contested the Lerwick Twageos seat at the inaugural Shetland Islands Council election in 1974.

Biography

In his youth, George was an active football player who represented Shetland in inter-county games, and after his time on the pitch came to an end, he became the President of the Shetland Football Association.

In the 1930s, George was appointed as headmaster of the Lerwick Central School, and held that post until 1966.

He was Guizer Jarl in 1950.

During WWII, he was in command of the Air Cadets, and the chairman of the organisation committee that raised money for charity.

As Convener, it was George's signature on the document that saw the Shetland Islands benefit immensely from the oil trade.

Political Career

External Links

Conveners
Preceded by
Edward Thomason
Convener of the
Zetland County Council

1973-1975
Council body dissolved
[Expand]Conveners of the Zetland County Council
Councillors John Bruce (1890-1907) • John Anderson (1907-1910) • James Grierson (1911-1913) • Robert D. Ganson (1914-1917) • John W. Robertson (1918-1923) • Henry Mouat (1924-1927) • James A. Smith (1928-1929) • Magnus Shearer (1930-1935) • Thomas Johnston (1935-1936) • William McDougall (1936-1937) • Adam Halcrow (1937-1938) • Edward Adie (1938-1943) • Robert J. H. Ganson (1944-1947) • William Thomson (1947-1955) • Prophet Smith (1955-1960) • Tom Henderson (1960-1963) • William Hamilton (1963-1967) • Robert A. Johnson (1967-1970) • Edward Thomason (1970-1973) • George Blance (1973-1975)