Scotland's Youngest Council Chief Becomes Gravedigger to Support Island Home

In a unique move, Orkney Islands Council leader Heather Woodbridge has taken on the role of resident gravedigger on the remote North Ronaldsay island where she grew up. The 31-year-old, who became Scotland's youngest council chief last year, says there are not enough fit young people available to perform some of the island's vital roles.

With the previous gravedigger leaving two years ago, Woodbridge decided to step up and help her home community. She has just completed training, including a written assessment and a practice dig, to operate a mini-digger for burials on the island, which has a population of just 70 people.

While Woodbridge's full-time role remains as council leader, she can now occasionally work as a private contractor digging graves using the resources available on the island. She says the key is knowing how to do the shuttering to ensure the walls don't collapse, and that the physically demanding work is manageable as she is used to helping on her family's croft.

Woodbridge hopes her decision will inspire others to consider taking on "essential jobs to keep society running" on remote islands like North Ronaldsay, which is only accessible via a 20-minute plane journey or a two-and-a-half-hour ferry ride from the Orkney mainland.