After a decade on CHE’s Board of Directors, Isobel Lindsay has stepped down to enjoy her well-earned retirement. Isobel has worked hard with a wide range of political and activist organisations over the years, and will no doubt continue to instigate positive change, now that she’s got plenty of time to cause trouble!

Some of Isobel’s activities over the years have included involvement with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, the Scottish Civil Forum, the Yorkhill Family Bereavement Trust, the Scottish Centre for Non-Violence, and Social Investment Scotland. She has also contributed to the Scottish tradition of dissent with her leadership roles in Scottish CND and the Scottish Coalition for Justice Not War, and is a regular contributor to the Scottish Left Review, the New Left Review, and other publications. She has served as both Convener of the Campaign for a Scottish Parliament, and as a Glasgow City Councilor. Prior to her retirement, Isobel was a sociology lecturer at the University of Strathclyde for nearly forty years.

The board can speak for the whole CHE community when we thank Isobel for her dedication and contributions over the years. Additionally, former Executive Director Osbert Lancaster reflects on Isobel’s contribution to CHE. Osbert writes: Isobel has been a long time friend and supporter of CHE, at least since the mid 90s when CHE was established as an independent organisation. She joined the board of CHE in 1998 and over the years provided insightful guidance and calm counsel with unwavering commitment.

Never one to speak for the sake of it, or to blow her own trumpet, I only learned of the wide range of organisations and causes she was involved with when she mentioned them in passing. Her experience and contacts proved helpful on many occasions - indeed probably essential at times.
Quietly passionate, but never polemical and always grounded, time and again Isobel surprised me. Often several board meetings would pass with hardly a word from Isobel, and I’d wonder why she still served, and what she was really bringing to the board.

And then... an interminable, difficult meeting, discussion flowing around and around making no progress... I’d notice Isobel had fallen asleep. (Why did she attend?) Argument continued, and then Isobel would interrupt quietly, to refocus our attention on the key issues, making useful connections between them, stripping away the inessentials, and making suggestions that moved us with clarity and wisdom towards the right decision.

Isobel contributed so much to CHE over the years; I thank her for that, and the advice and support she gave me personally as executive director. I wish her a long and satisfying retirement.