James Laing
| Born | 23 July 1875, Lerwick |
|---|---|
| Died | 31 August 1946, Lerwick |
| Provost | Lerwick Town Council 1924–1927 |
| Elections | 14 (11 won) |
| Bayanne | Genealogy page |
James Laing was the secretary for the Seamans Union, a Lerwick Town Councillor and a County Councillor for Lerwick South between 1922 and 1929. He was also the Provost of Lerwick from 1924 to 1927, and Guizer Jarl for the Lerwick Up Helly Aa in 1909. He unsuccessfully contested the Bressay seat at the 1913 County Council election and the 1919 Cunningsburgh County Council by-election and the 1933 Lerwick Town Council election.
Biography
As a young man, James showed talent at stonemasonry and he had a hand in many of the public buildings in Lerwick. Before WWI, he was the secretary to the Seamen's and Firemen's Union which he held up to the early days of WWII, succeeded by Prophet Smith.
He became the first Labour Provost of Lerwick in 1924 and served until 1945.
