Robert Ganson (ii)
| Born | 31 July 1896, Lerwick |
|---|---|
| Died | 9 January 1976, Lerwick |
| Convener | Zetland County Council 1944–1947 |
| Elections | 14 (14 won) |
| Bayanne | Genealogy page |
Robert James Hay 'Bertie' Ganson was a company director and County Councillor for Delting South between 1922 and 1928, then Sandness from 1928 to 1932, and again from 1949 to 1970. He also represented the Lerwick Town Council between 1932 and 1947. His father, Robert was involved at a similar level in local politics.
Biography
Bertie had a lifelong connection to his father's firm Ganson Bros. Ltd, who were Ford dealers and self-drive hire in Shetland. Around the age of 18, Bertie joined the business but the outbreak of WWI soon interrupted his work, as he was call up to serve. He was in France with the 51st Division, then with the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force. After the war, he returned to work in the family business, and when his father died in 1936, Bertie took charge of the business, the largest of its kind at that point.
Key to the success of the business was the main contract, which saw Gansons busses travel all over the mainland - but the Post Office began deploying its own vehicles in 1947, ending the 60-year connection. The busses were said to have travelled 75,000 miles a year on average.
