Thank you! Celebrating staff compliments

Individuals, teams and departments across the council regularly receive compliments from residents, visitors, staff and businesses. Here's a selection:

Comment from supplier: Road Services and Planning. We work across various council authorities and subsequently numerus colleagues in planning and roads. You and your colleagues will not appreciate, or possibly even be aware of this, but as a group you are second to none in terms of communication and willingness to attend meetings to keep the projects moving forward. Makes my role so much easier and is hugely appreciated. 

Local resident: Corporate Communications. I wanted to give feedback on the Be Nice campaign. Absolutely brilliant! When you see signs about abuse in Dr's surgeries, garages etc they come across as hostile. But the human touch and, indeed, nice notice at the end of your email would resonate much more, in my opinion. Well done East Lothian Council! Please pass this on. Thank you.

Local resident: Waste Services. Ricky at Wallyford recycling area was wonderful! We needed to dispose of some windows and could not do so in Dunbar. I rang the council who gave me Ricky’s number. He was a delight, cheerful and helpful. When we arrived today he guided us to the best parking spot and then worked with is to unload the items. A true gentleman and I hope you treasure him!

Local resident: Libraries and customer services. My wife and I had very positive and helpful support today from Dr Hanita Ritchie today. Thanks to her for digging into the history of old buildings at North Berwick. She left no stone unturned and has given us several pointers towards achieving our goal of finding facts. We are grateful for such a service in our county.

Local resident: Registration services. We just wanted to say a huge thank you for our marriage ceremony on Saturday 19th July 2025. It was very straight forward, and Jim made us feel at ease and made the whole experience very memorable and special. Please pass on our thanks to Jim. We also wanted to say that the room is simple but beautiful. it was just amazing.

Donna and Jen organise Brownies Disney trip

East Lothian’s Brownies are preparing to travel internationally for the first time with a trip to Disneyland Paris in 2026.

Homelessness team colleagues Donna Gibson (pictured right) and Jen Gentle are both Brownie Leaders; Donna joined Brownies aged 7 and, as she explains “never left!”. After progressing through Guides and returning to the same unit as a Young Leader, she started her qualifications and started as a Leader 24 years ago.

Making dreams a reality 

The Disneyland trip was originally to take place in October 2020 but cancelled due to Covid. Now, Donna and Jen are more determined than ever to make this dream trip a reality. The trip brings together Brownies from across East Lothian’s units with 28 children due to attend and fundraising has begun in earnest.

“Our trip to Disneyland Paris will encourage the Brownies to step outside their comfort zone, gain confidence and make new friends. It’s an amazing opportunity for the girls to experience international travel something they may never get the chance to do themselves,” says Donna.

Fundraising to support families

Although families are paying towards the trip, Donna is keen to raise as much money as possible through fundraising events to reduce the financial impact, recognising the challenges that some families face. “Many of the Brownies on the trip are from deprived areas and will never be able to have an experience like this outwith Girlguiding,” she says. “They’ll not only have great fun but also learn about a different culture, try new experiences and make memories that will last a lifetime.”

Jen (pictured right) is also currently running a ‘Guess the Bear’s birthday’ competition to win a cuddly Stitch toy from the Disney movie Lilo and Stitch. Stitch is suitable for age 0 onwards so could be regifted to a baby or toddler. If you would like a guess, contact Jennifer Gentle - each date costs £2.

Brownies units meet across East Lothian welcoming girls aged between 7 and 10 years old. It provides a safe and inclusive environment for girls to build confidence, develop leadership skills and explore new interests through a variety of activities and challenges.

Get involved!

To find out more about the trip or want to hear about forthcoming fundraising events, please contact Donna Gibson.

Donate to Donna and Jen’s JustGiving page now

Team manager honoured for "exceptional" career

A team manager in Protective Services Trading has been honoured by her peers for her “exceptional” career.

Alexandra Connell was recognised with a fellowship of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) at its recent conference.

Alexandra, who is the Team Manager for Business Compliance (Trading & Licensing Standards), has been a member of the Institute for nearly two decades.

Exceptional contribution

Fellowships are only awarded to members of at least ten years standing who have made an original and exceptional contribution to trading standards, and/or have rendered outstanding and distinguished services to the objectives that the Institute serves.

Alexandra’s award citation praised her “passion” and “commitment”, adding: “She leads, motivates and walks the talk, forever looking to do more and always wanting improvement.”

Since earning an HND in Consumer Studies in 1987 from The Queen’s College, Glasgow – now part of Glasgow Caledonian University – Alexandra went on to notch up a string of professional qualifications and then joined the Institute's Qualifications Awards Board in 2014, becoming Lead Officer for Education & Training in 2019.

Her past roles include working as a Consumer Adviser with the Central Regional Council in Falkirk in the early 1990s and a Trading Standards Officer in Lincolnshire while living in England with husband Alastair and their two daughters.

Alexandra joined the Institute’s East Midlands Branch in 2006. Qualifying as a Trading Standards Officer, she later served as the branch chair.

'Extremely honoured'

After returning to Scotland in 2019, Alexandra joined East Lothian Council as a Trading Standards Manager and was elected chair of the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS) in 2024. 

Alexandra said: “I was extremely honoured to be awarded fellowship of the CTSI at our annual conference. I’m incredibly humbled that colleagues feel that I am worthy of this and believe I’ve made significant contributions to the profession.”

Congratulations!