FORMER far north MP John Thurso highlighted Lord Maclennan’s passion for the arts as well as his record in fighting tirelessly on behalf of his constituents.

“On the national stage he was one of the main architects and a founding father of the Liberal Democrats, but here in the north he will be remembered as an outstanding constituency MP who fought for individuals and communities with great skill and compassion and who was much respected by everyone across the political spectrum,” said John Thurso, who in 2001 succeeded Lord Maclennan as MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross and who is now Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness.

“He was very proud of the fact that he secured the investment in the causeway at Tongue where the road used to go all the way round the loch. It was one of the first things he managed to do in his first parliament as an MP in 1960s.

“I drove over it many times with him, and virtually every time he would remind me that he got it!

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“He was a passionate supporter of the arts and believed in the Northlands Festival, which he created. The Northlands might not have survived, but so many other things did.

“Some of the passion that went into the creation of North Lands glass [at Lybster] came from the fact that there was an arts scene, and when he was chairman of the Prince’s North Highland Initiative he started the artistic side of that.

“He believed very deeply in the ability of the arts to enrich people’s lives, and that having the arts as part of the regeneration of the north made it a richer, more pleasant experience for everybody.

“It’s true to say that he was hugely respected by people of all parties and none.”

Details of Lord Maclennan’s funeral have still to be confirmed.

Related article: Tributes paid to Lord Maclennan of Rogart

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