Difference between revisions of "Laurence Edmondston"

From Shetland History Online
Jump to: navigation, search
(Pushed from Shetland Politics History Database.)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
 
[[Image:Ledmondston.jpg|right|thumb|300px|'''Laurence Edmondston''' at the unveiling of the [[North Unst War Memorial - Norwick|Norwick World War II memorial]] in [[Unst]].<br>Photo from [[Shetland Museum and Archives]].]]
 
[[Image:Ledmondston.jpg|right|thumb|300px|'''Laurence Edmondston''' at the unveiling of the [[North Unst War Memorial - Norwick|Norwick World War II memorial]] in [[Unst]].<br>Photo from [[Shetland Museum and Archives]].]]
 
'''Lt.-Col. Laurence David Edmondston''' (b. 23 March [[1900]], [[Edinburgh]], d. 13 September [[1987]], [[Unst]]) was a [[County Councillor]] for [[Unst North (Constituency)|Unst North]] between [[1958]] and [[1961]].
 
'''Lt.-Col. Laurence David Edmondston''' (b. 23 March [[1900]], [[Edinburgh]], d. 13 September [[1987]], [[Unst]]) was a [[County Councillor]] for [[Unst North (Constituency)|Unst North]] between [[1958]] and [[1961]].
 +
 +
He unsuccessfully contested the Unst North seat at the [[County_Council_Election_May_1952#Unst_North|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 Edmondston|Arthur]], the who was elected to lead the first ever inception of the [[Lerwick Town Council]].  
 
Laurence's great-grandfather, Doctor Laurence Edmondston, was a brother to [[Arthur Edmondston|Arthur]], the who was elected to lead the first ever inception of the [[Lerwick Town Council]].  
  
He unsuccessfully contested the Unst North seat at the [[County_Council_Election_May_1952#Unst_North|1952 County Council election]].
+
 
 
==Political Career==
 
==Political Career==
 
*[[County Council Election May 1958|1958 County Council election]]
 
*[[County Council Election May 1958|1958 County Council election]]

Revision as of 08:06, 15 January 2025

File:Ledmondston.jpg
Laurence Edmondston at the unveiling of the Norwick World War II memorial in Unst.<br>Photo from Shetland Museum and Archives.

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
Edward Thomason Headshot.png
[Expand]Unst North County Councillors
Councillors James Sutherland (1890-1892) • Charles Sandison Snr (1892-1929) • Charles Sandison Jr (1929-1937) • John W. Robertson (1938-1949) • Laurence Bruce (1949-1952) • John Priest (1952-1955) • Lindsay Robertson (1955-1958) • Laurence Edmondston (1958-1961) • Edward Thomason (1961-1973) • William Thomson (1973-1975)