Former Lord Provost to discuss George Bush snub in new book

Published On Tue 24 May 2016 by Grant Hill

Former Lord Provost John Letford turned down a meeting with the most powerful man in the free world to honour a scheduled visit to steel workers in Baltimore – just one of the many revelations contained in the autobiography he is launching at the University of Dundee this week.

Mr Letford will talk about his life of public service and the sometimes unsavoury side of local politics when he discusses ‘Fae the Boatyaird to Buckingham Palace’ at the University’s D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre on Thursday, 26^th May.

As Dundee’s Lord Provost from 2001 until 2012, Mr Letford was the longest-serving civic head in the UK since the nineteenth century. After representing the city at dozens of Graduation ceremonies, he was himself awarded a degree when the University conferred an Honorary Doctor of Laws upon him in 2007. Mr Letford has also been made a Fellow of Abertay University.

His book contains previously untold stories about family, politics in Dundee, and civic responsibilities throughout his career. His period as Lord Lieutenant of Dundee brought him into contact with the Royal Family, heads of state and A-list celebrities yet he has never lost sight of his working-class roots, as evidenced by his decision to decline President George W Bush’s invite to the White House.

“John Letford was a fantastic ambassador for the city of Dundee and a great friend to the University before, during and after his time in office,” said Professor Sir Pete Downes, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee.

“It is fitting that his autobiography be launched here as he helped enhance town and gown relations and was awarded an Honorary Degree from the University in recognition of all he had done for the city. His career is a unique and fascinating one and I am sure John’s book will be illuminating for anyone who has watched political developments in Dundee and Scotland over the past few decades.”

Born in Aberdeen, John Letford moved to Dundee in 1943. He served his apprenticeship in the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company shipyard and also completed his National Service in the Royal Air Force. He latterly became a councillor in Tayside Regional Council and was elected to Dundee City Council following the reorganisation of Scottish local authorities in 1994.

He was elected Lord Provost of the city seven years later. Following the damaging stalemate that followed the 2009 local elections, Mr Letford resigned from the Labour Party to serve as an independent councillor and remain the Lord Provost of the new SNP administration, a controversial move that dramatically altered the city’s political scene.

He was awarded an MBE in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to local government and still lives in Dundee.

The launch of ‘Fae the Boatyaird to Buckingham Palace’ takes place from 5-6.45pm on Thursday, 26th May at the D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, Tower Building, University of Dundee. The event is organised by the Literary Dundee initiative and will see Mr Letford in conversation with the University’s Eddie Small.

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