Robert Ganson (i)
| Born | 25 September 1855, Delting |
|---|---|
| Died | 17 February 1936, Lerwick |
| Convener | Zetland County Council 1914–1917 |
| Provost | Lerwick Town Council 1920–1924 |
| Elections | 19 (19 won) |
| Bayanne | Genealogy page |
Robert Dowell Ganson O.B.E. was a business chairman, a Lerwick Town Councillor between 1903 and 1932, and a County Councillor, representing Bressay first between 1892 - 1895 and 1898 and 1913, Sandwick between 1913 and 1919, and Nesting between 1922 and 1928. He was a chairman for the Ganson Bros company which was established in 1883 and operated until the 1970's as a carriage hiring company, and later a garage. His son, Robert had a similarly notable life in business and local government. His involvement with Brentham House in Lerwick and that area led to the alley leading to Brentham Court being renamed Ganson Lane.
Biography
Ganson was first a Law Clerk in Lerwick under James G. Galloway, the Procurate-Fiscal. With his brother he founded Ganson Bros as carters and hirers and he acquired farmland at the Ness of Sound. He grew Ganson Bros to be the largest and most extensive hiring company in Shetland. This progress was driven by the company's ability to keep up with development in car motor technology.
After his brother passed away, he continued extend his farmland and built several buildings in Lerwick including Brentham Place.
He held a keen interest in agriculture and was a judge at livestock shows, as well as being a prominent member of the Shetland Agricultural Education Advisory Committee. He was also the Clerk to the Bressay School Board from 1872 until 1919 (43 years), the Clerk to the Lerwick School Board from 1890 to 1910 and was decorated with an O.B.E. for his work as Convener on Emergency War Committees.
