Laurence Edmondston
Lt.-Col. Laurence David Edmondston (b. 23 March 1900, Edinburgh, d. 13 September 1987, Unst) was a County Councillor for Unst North between 1958 and 1961.
He unsuccessfully contested the Unst North seat at the 1952 County Council election.
Biography
Laurence graduated from Sandhurst just WWI, and subsequently joined the Royal Scots through which he served in Yemen, India and Burma (Myanmar). While serving in Burma, he developed an interest in big game hunting and collected several record trophies, but shortly thereafter became more a conservationist. His new focus helped create the Hermaness Nature Reserve on his native isle. When he left the army, he joined the Bombay and Burma Teak Company, foresting teak wood in Burma.
The outbreak of WWII saw him immediately rejoin the army, serving in the Middle East and beyond. He was posted back to India in 1944 and was put in charge of Military Police, returning to his Burmese job when the war ended.
When he returned to Shetland, he came with enough teak to build a boat, which he christened Vega. He later also had the Stormalong built. Laurence believe that the Vega had been destroyed in a hurricane after he parted with it, but learned a few weeks before his death that it was still in use in Florida.
Laurence's great-grandfather, Doctor Laurence Edmondston, was a brother to Arthur, the who was elected to lead the first ever inception of the Lerwick Town Council.
Political Career
External Links
| Zetland County Council | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lindsay Robertson |
Member for Unst North 1958-1961 |
Succeeded by Edward Thomason 
|
