George Grubb
Encyclopedia
George D. W. Grubb is, since May 2007, the Lord Provost and ex officio Lord-Lieutenant of Edinburgh. He is also a Liberal Democrat councillor of the City of Edinburgh Council for Almond ward.
He is a Church of Scotland
minister, and was minister at Craigsbank Parish Church, Corstorphine
, Edinburgh
from 1971 until his retirement in 2001 after thirty years. He is married to wife Liz and has two children.
, Edinburgh, the Open University
(BA, 1974 and BPhil, 1983), the University of Edinburgh
(BD, 1978) and San Francisco Theological Seminary
(DMin, 1993). He was ordained a minister by the Methodist Church in Stoke-on-Trent
in 1962, later transferring to the Church of Scotland. From 1962 until 1970 he served as a Chaplain
in the Royal Air Force
. He also ministered in Zambia
and Malawi
.
George once called for the monarchy to be scrapped and in 1998 criticised the Church of Scotland for being out of touch, saying that the only growth the Kirk
was looking for was in bureaucracy.
. He retained his seat in 2003 and in 2007 was one of three councillors elected for the new multi-member ward of Almond. He is a member of the Liberal Democrats
and was chairperson of the party's group on the Council from 2000 to 2007.
George was chosen as Lord Provost of Edinburgh on 17 May 2007, after the Liberal Democrats became the largest party on the council after the 2007 council elections
. He noted in his remarks upon assuming the chair that it was Ascension Day. The Liberal Democrats selected him for the post after fellow councillor Marilyne MacLaren withdrew from contention and therefore became the first Liberal Democrat Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
He is a Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
minister, and was minister at Craigsbank Parish Church, Corstorphine
Corstorphine
Corstorphine was originally a village to the west of—and separate from—Edinburgh, Scotland, and is now a suburb of that city.Corstorphine retains a busy main street with many independent small shops, although a number have closed in recent years since the opening of several retail parks...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
from 1971 until his retirement in 2001 after thirty years. He is married to wife Liz and has two children.
Early life
George Grubb was born in Edinburgh (in 1935) and was educated at James Gillespie’s Boys School, Edinburgh, the Royal High SchoolRoyal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
, Edinburgh, the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
(BA, 1974 and BPhil, 1983), the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
(BD, 1978) and San Francisco Theological Seminary
San Francisco Theological Seminary
San Francisco Theological Seminary is a graduate school affiliated with Presbyterian Church located in San Anselmo, California. Founded in 1871, SFTS is a graduate theological institution that is focused on graduate theological education in the Reformed tradition...
(DMin, 1993). He was ordained a minister by the Methodist Church in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
in 1962, later transferring to the Church of Scotland. From 1962 until 1970 he served as a Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He also ministered in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
.
George once called for the monarchy to be scrapped and in 1998 criticised the Church of Scotland for being out of touch, saying that the only growth the Kirk
Kirk
Kirk can mean "church" in general or the Church of Scotland in particular. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it.-Basic meaning and etymology:...
was looking for was in bureaucracy.
Council career
George Grubb was first elected to the Council in 1999 for the ward of QueensferrySouth Queensferry
South Queensferry , also called Queensferry, is a former Royal Burgh in West Lothian now part of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located some ten miles to the north west of the city centre, on the shore of the Firth of Forth between the Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge, approximately 8...
. He retained his seat in 2003 and in 2007 was one of three councillors elected for the new multi-member ward of Almond. He is a member of the Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are one of the three state parties within the federal Liberal Democrats; the others being the Welsh Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats in England...
and was chairperson of the party's group on the Council from 2000 to 2007.
George was chosen as Lord Provost of Edinburgh on 17 May 2007, after the Liberal Democrats became the largest party on the council after the 2007 council elections
City of Edinburgh Council election, 2007
Elections to the City of Edinburgh Council were held on the May 3, 2007 the same day as the Scottish Parliament general election. The election was the first one using 17 new wards created as a results of the Local Governance Act 2004, each ward will elect three or four councillors using the single...
. He noted in his remarks upon assuming the chair that it was Ascension Day. The Liberal Democrats selected him for the post after fellow councillor Marilyne MacLaren withdrew from contention and therefore became the first Liberal Democrat Lord Provost of Edinburgh.