Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Mr Bob Ritchie of Peterhead was presented with his membership card and a small token from the Party by local MSP Stewart Stevenson. Mr Ritchie, who celebrated his 90th birthday last year, was a founding member of Fraserburgh Branch SNP and is the Honorary President of Peterhead Branch SNP.
Commenting, Stewart Stevenson said:
“Bob has been a stalwart of the SNP in Buchan for decades and an inspiration to many activists locally over the years.
“It is fitting that his long service is recognised and I’m delighted to be able to present him with Honorary Life Membership from SNP Headquarters.
“Bob holds a place in history as the first-ever SNP Election Agent in this area when the Party decided to contest the old East Aberdeenshire seat at the 1964 election. Bob tells a story that he narrowly avoided being the candidate at that election because he won the toss of a coin and chose to be the agent!
“At that 1964 election, the SNP got 6% of the vote and 1900 votes. In May this year in Banff & Buchan, Eilidh Whiteford achieved a record 60% of the vote and over 27,000 votes. It is thanks to the hard work and dedication of people like Bob in those early days that the party was able to put down such solid foundations to build on locally.
“But the SNP continues to fight each election as if we faced the same odds we did in 1964. We have to earn each and every vote through working for our communities and never take anyone’s vote for granted.”
“It is fitting that his long service is recognised and I’m delighted to be able to present him with Honorary Life Membership from SNP Headquarters.
“Bob holds a place in history as the first-ever SNP Election Agent in this area when the Party decided to contest the old East Aberdeenshire seat at the 1964 election. Bob tells a story that he narrowly avoided being the candidate at that election because he won the toss of a coin and chose to be the agent!
“At that 1964 election, the SNP got 6% of the vote and 1900 votes. In May this year in Banff & Buchan, Eilidh Whiteford achieved a record 60% of the vote and over 27,000 votes. It is thanks to the hard work and dedication of people like Bob in those early days that the party was able to put down such solid foundations to build on locally.
“But the SNP continues to fight each election as if we faced the same odds we did in 1964. We have to earn each and every vote through working for our communities and never take anyone’s vote for granted.”
