Celebrating the Life of Robert Higgins

That the Parliament expresses its deep sadness at the sudden passing of Robert Higgins, a retired SNP councillor and deputy leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council; acknowledges the significant contribution that Robert made to public and community life in the region, but particularly in his home and ward area in the Rhins of Galloway; notes that, right up until his death, Robert continued to serve people and his community as a trustee of Stranraer Credit Union and of the Academy of the Rhins Educational Trust, and recognises that through his willingness to work across parties and with all councillors, he made a difference to people, businesses, nature and communities, including by securing natural gas supplies to Stranraer, the full refurbishment of Stranraer Academy with a hydrotherapy pool, by-passes for Glenluce and Dunragit, improvements to the A75 and A77, new affordable housing and home modernisations for hundreds of families, protecting indigenous birds, animals and local natural habitats and working nationally and locally to create the Kirkcudbright Galleries.