Councillor with aggressive brain tumour appointed Shetland Islands convener

Bryan Peterson has been appointed as Shetland Islands Council’s new convener.

The Shetland South member, who was previously the depute convener, was elected to the position at a meeting of the full council today (Wednesday) following the resignation of Andrea Manson.

Speaking outside the meeting, Peterson said he was “honoured” and keen to give something back to the Shetland community after more than £120,000 was raised in recent days for his ongoing brain tumour treatment abroad.

Meanwhile Shetland Central councillor Catherine Hughson has now taken up the depute convener role.

Manson nominated Peterson for the role at today’s meeting, saying he had done an “exemplary job” as his depute.

She said the “best job in the world would be in safe hands”.

Peterson said he would “gracefully accept” the role, thanking Manson for her service as convener.

Hughson also accepted the role as depute, saying she was “very humbled to be asked”.

The convener is the civic head of the council, and part of the role involves attending events on behalf of the SIC and the community and acting as an ambassador of sorts for Shetland.

Other tasks for the convener includes chairing meetings of the full council and “upholding good governance” within the organisation.

The convener role currently comes with an annual salary of £37,548.

Peterson, who has a background in arts and education, was first elected as a councillor in 2022 and was appointed depute convener at the beginning of his tenure.

Hughson – a former executive officer of Voluntary Action Shetland – has been in the chamber since 2017.

It comes ahead of the next SIC elections in 2027.

Manson resigned as convener earlier this month after she was disqualified from company directorship for three and a half years. She is continuing as a councillor for the Shetland North ward.

Speaking outside the meeting, Peterson said he was particularly honoured that his colleagues had placed confidence in him to be convener.

“I’ve very much enjoyed being the depute convener and this feels like a natural step up,” he added.

Reflecting on the fundraising drive for his brain tumour treatment which has seen a staggering £120,000-plus raised by the community since Friday, Peterson said it has been a “heck of a week”.

“Shetland has given me so much recently, so I feel it’s an opportunity to be able to give something back to people,” he said.

“I hope by being a good convener and a representative of Shetland that I can channel some of that support that I’ve had. In some ways it feels appropriate to be able to offer support for the community I love.”

Meanwhile Peterson also praised Hughson, adding that he has “always been impressed with how she conducts herself professionally in the council”.

“She’s been a very supportive depute of other chairs, and she’s very ethical and she understands how the community works after many years of working with the voluntary sector,” Peterson said. “She represents Shetland well.

“Plus she’d be happy to give me trouble when I need trouble.”

He said Hughson has often supported him and given advice since being elected in 2022.

Peterson also said he “absolutely loved” working with Manson as her depute.

“I have a lot of love to both of them – I feel like I’ve been schooled by two very dear friends,” he said.