Councillor Bill Cormie: ‘Genuinely lovely’ champion of Rosemount dies, aged 71

Popular Aberdeen councillor Bill Cormie has been remembered as “one of the nicest people you could meet”, after his death last night.

The Midstocket and Rosemount councillor “championed” his community for decades, firstly as a community councillor before his election in 2007.

Having grown up in the Garioch, Mr Cormie went on to become depute provost of the city and was a serving Baillie and Burgess of Aberdeen.

He was a doting father to his daughter, Penny.

And the 71-year-old helped Aberdeen bloom, inspiring thousands of children at local schools to plant tens of thousands of bulbs over nearly two decades on the council.

Despite health challenges in recent years, Mr Cormie could still be spotted pounding the pavements of Rosemount with his walking stick, and advocating for the community he served at Aberdeen City Council.

Tributes paid to ‘larger than life’ Bill Cormie

Aberdeen City Council co-leader Christian Allard, and Mr Cormie’s SNP group leader, told The Press and Journal: “Bill was a colleague and friend to many, and this is very sad news that he has passed away last night.

“He has been a champion for his community of Rosemount and Midstocket for 19 years on the council, and I know he will be missed by many across the city.

“We are all thinking about those closest to Bill.”

His SNP colleague Kevin Stewart was deputy leader of the council during Mr Cormie’s first four years as a councillor.

He added: “Bill was larger than life and put his heart and soul into representing the folk of Midstocket and Rosemount on Aberdeen City Council.

“Condolences to his family and his many, many friends.”

‘A genuinely lovely man’

Tributes this morning were not limited to those of the same political persuasion.

“I will miss him,” Lib Dem council co-leader Ian Yuill told The P&J.

“Bill had not been in the best of health in recent months but it was an awful shock to hear the news this morning.

“He was a lovely and thoroughly decent man who cared passionately for the community he lived in and served, and for the city.

“I only have fond memories of Bill and he will be sadly missed by his council colleagues, the people he represented and our thoughts are with Bill’s daughter Penny at this horrible time.”

‘Despite health problems, he was still the Bill we all knew and loved’

And the leader of the Aberdeen Labour opposition group M Tauqeer Malik was “deeply saddened” by the news Mr Cormie’s death too.

He told us: “Bill was one of the nicest people you could meet in Aberdeen City Council. He loved representing his constituents and always put them first.

“Despite struggling with his health recently, he remained the Bill we all knew and loved — warm, kind and always with a smile on his face.

“Aberdeen City Council has lost a dedicated public servant and a genuinely lovely man. Bill will be greatly missed.”

Lord Provost lowers Scotland flag to half mast for Councillor Bill Cormie

The Saltire is flying at half mast outside Marischal College today.

Lord Provost David Cameron said: “Councillor Bill Cormie has been part of my life for more than 20 years and a councillor colleague since May 2012.

“Having been the deputy provost when I first met him during the 2007 to 2012 council term his contribution to the city, and in particular his ward, was second to none.

“In recent years his health was not good but that did not prevent him from continuing to be a very strong advocate for the residents and businesses in Midstocket and Rosemount, which he represented for nearly 20 years.

“He will be missed by all, and I am sad that today I and others have lost a valued colleague.

“My thoughts are particularly with his daughter Penny and his other colleagues, family and friends.”

[Source: Press and Journal]