Death of former Inverness Depute Provost Graham Ross, aged 67
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Former Inverness Depute Provost Graham Ross has died, aged 67.
He had served as a Highland councillor for the Inverness West ward for nine years until he resigned in May 2021 for family reasons.
Popular within the community, he was renowned as being dedicated, conscientious and hard-working in his roles as a ward councillor, depute provost and deputy city leader of Inverness.
Mr Ross, who passed away peacefully at Raigmore Hospital, leaves a son, Steven. His wife, Helen, died in April last year.
His son, who works in the field of climate change in Manchester, paid tribute to his father, recalling him as a man who was dedicated to his family as well as the community until the very end.
"He was the most incredible dad because he was dedicated to me and the ambitions I had," he said.
"He was a champion for local people and the issues they were facing.
"He was desperate to do all he could to help them.
"I suppose the evidence of that is that it was impossible to go anywhere with him in Inverness without him bumping into a good handful of people who knew him – it could be a supermarket, it could be in the city centre, it could be a bar, it could be any part of Inverness.
"He had time for absolutely everyone, no matter whether they were of the highest ability or the average person in the street."
He recalled his father's sense of humour which made everyone laugh and smile.
He was also a huge Celtic FC fan and a huge Scotland fan in any sporting event as well as having a love of cars.
Born in Inverness, Mr Ross attended Hilton Primary School and Inverness Royal Academy before studying at Moray House College in Edinburgh.
He was involved in youth and community work for more than 30 years including being a senior community education officer with Highland Council and was particularly known for his work at Charleston Academy Community Complex as well as in the city's Kinmylies and Scorguie neighbourhoods.
He was also instrumental in bringing the Young Scot Awards ceremony to the Highlands the first time it was held outside the central belt.
He was elected to serve on Highland Council as councillor for the Inverness West ward in 2012 and quickly gained the respect of all who came into contact with him.
He was appointed as Depute Provost/Depute City Leader for Inverness in June 2017.
He also took on key roles ranging from leading the city’s successful events and festivals programme to chairing the City Area Recovery Group. He also chaired the Inverness Common Good Fund Sub Committee.
When he resigned from the council in May 2021, many paid tribute to his dedication and professionalism.
They included the then Inverness Provost, Helen Carmichael, who said: "He has set a very high standard for all of us to follow and will be greatly missed by councillors, officers and most importantly, by our city community, whom Graham so diligently served for many years."
