Lord Gove of Torry on living up to his new title – with hopes to defend Aberdeen community

Lord Gove is pledging to do all he can to protect the heritage of Torry – with hopes of “intervening” where he can after taking instruction from local history buffs.

Michael Gove, who was installed in the House of Lords as the Baron of Torry in May, was back in his home city of Aberdeen at the weekend.

The former Conservative government frontbencher received a mixed reaction when he elected to be known as Lord Gove of Torry in the House of Lords.

As he exclusively revealed his chosen title to us, ahead of taking his seat in the upper house, he admitted: “It may be that people are scunnered or pleased.”

Lord Gove of Torry: ‘Overwhelming kindness’ at new honour

But now, he says it has been mostly positive.

“I wasn’t sure if people would be… delighted or offended or something in between,” he tells us, sitting in a comfy wingback chair in the smoking room of the Royal Northern and University Club.

“But the reaction from people has been overwhelmingly kind and generous.

“As I have said, it is a reflection of the fact that I owe so much to my parents and my dad was born in Torry, went to school in Torry, and my parents were married in Torry.

“And it’s a very special part of my life and of Aberdeen.”

It comes after The National newspaper published candid vox pops of Torry locals, less than impressed with his choice of House of Lords honour.

But former P&J reporter Lord Gove seems determined to prove his doubters wrong.

Lord Gove offers ear to Torry Heritage Group

Coming up to Aberdeen for his after-dinner speech at Albyn Place members club, he had hoped to also tie in meetings with Torry residents.

The area on the south of the River Dee has been at the short end of the city’s industrialisation for decades.

There has been the loss of Old Torry to make way for oil and gas development, the sewage works and its infamous “Torry pong”, the waste incinerator in Tullos, the new south harbour at the Bay of Nigg, and now the prospect of part of St Fittick’s Park being lost to the Energy Transition Zone.

On top of that, hundreds have been forced from their council-built homes in Balnagask after the discovery of potentially dangerous Raac concrete in their roofs.

Lord Gove, whose late father was an Aberdeen fish merchant, witnessed the loss of Torry’s fishing trade.

Flight timing meant lord missed Torry heritage meeting

And the former Robert Gordon’s schoolboy was looking to attend the Torry Heritage Group’s meeting on Friday afternoon, as well as the residents’ association, to see if he could help with their ongoing work.

Previously they have turned their attention to the crumbling Victoria Road School, but money was pulled from the project in 2024 leaving the Torry Development Trust’s work shelved.

The fire-ravaged former primary has since been sold at auction.

More recently, attention has turned to Torry Library, and how it might be brought back to life by the community.

Lord Gove could not make an early enough flight to attend the meeting at Old Torry Community Centre on Friday afternoon.

What buildings does Lord Gove of Torry think deserve protection?

Asked if there were any heritage sites he thought ought to be protected, he added: “Until I have a chance to talk to the folk in Torry, I won’t intervene because I don’t know if there are any planning issues where my voice, however small it might be, would be a help.

“But I think that it’s important to recognise that Torry is an ancient settlement.

“And while it’s had its ups and downs, it’s an amazingly resilient community, and part of its future is remembering its past.”

Torry Heritage Group declined to comment, until they hear what Lord Gove has to say.

The former Levelling Up Secretary is expected to have been the first in a line up of political speakers at the Royal Northern and University Club in coming months, which has launched a drive for new members.

Friday’s event was well-attended, though there was concern the starters might have to be delayed as the lord struggled to get a taxi from his mum’s house in Rosehill.

“Even though it was an inconvenience for me, the fact that you can’t get a taxi is a sign that at least the nightlife… and, of course, I’m a great supporter of Aberdeen’s nightlife… is still in a healthy state.”

[Source: Press and Journal]