Celebrating Long Service

Laurence Long Service Awards lectern 63 colleagues with an incredible 1400 collective years of continuous service attended a special celebration to recognise their contributions to our council and East Lothian's communities.

The Long Service Awards saw colleagues from a wide range of services come together at the Corn Exchange, Haddington, to reminisce on their careers and the changes they have witnessed.

Chief Executive Laurence Rockey and East Lothian Provost John McMillan welcomed attendees and also presented everyone with a certificate to
mark 20, 30 or 40 years of service.

"Quiet warriors making a difference"

Speaking at the event, Laurence reflected on the value of public service, describing it as “an army of quiet warriors making a difference to people’s lives. Not seeking acclaim or the spotlight but doing your bit to make your county, your country and your world a little bit better.

“From early years services to burials, what we do affects everyone in East Lothian at some point in their lives,” he said. “It’s an amazing job and one that the public don’t always see. Today has really shown how much we all come to work with a sense of making a difference and I encourage you all to hold on to that as I do. Your collective service is an incredible achievement.”

Sharing memories across the decades

Colleagues were invited to share their reflections across the decades from their personal and professional lives as well as world events.

Memories ranged from the introduction of computers into the organisation and, later, whiteboards in classrooms, to the impacts of covid on wedding services.

New services were introduced along with new buildings – George Johnston Centre and John Gray Centre opening in 2012 and 2014 respectively – changes to roles, workplaces and practices were mentioned alongside happy occasions such as first jobs, new homes, weddings, children being born and sporting successes!

"Utmost admiration"

Closing the celebration, Councillor McMillan highlighted attendees’ roles in bringing our council values of Enabling, Leading and Caring to life, saying: “Many of you take the lead quietly, making that difference, caring for customers, our villages and towns, young people and old people. You deserve the utmost admiration and respect and we are all grateful for your professionalism, care and, above all, decades long commitment to making a difference in East Lothian. Thank you.”