SNP

The Peterhead Branch of the Scottish National Party pay tribute to one of Banff & Buchan’s longest serving members, former Peterhead Burgh Councillor, Mary Christian Tait (nee Buchan) who died peacefully at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Stroke Unit on 30 October 2009, aged 83 years.

Chris was born in 1926 at the family home in Roanheads. She attended the North School and Peterhead Academy, where she achieved excellent grades, before enrolling at Webster’s College in Aberdeen where she specialised in Secretarial Studies.
 
While a student in Aberdeen, Chris became involved with the Scottish National Party, an association that was to last for the rest of her life, and in the 1960s she was elected to Peterhead Town Council, one of only a very small number of women of her generation to hold elected public office.
 
In her professional life, Chris worked as a secretary for a number of local firms, including Sutherlands of Peterhead, Cleveland Twist Drill, Euclid, and the Kirkburn Mills, from where she retired 23 years ago. She also spent some time working in Canada .
 
Chris married Joseph Tait, a baker, in 1965. They were both active members of the Peterhead Baptist Church , and assisted with the Church Youth Club. Joseph died in 1981.
 
Chris combined a deep faith with a keen awareness of local and national events, and always had an astute analysis of current affairs.  In particular, she gave great support and encouragement to the young people she met in church and political environments.