Former Student President Ron Bird has passed away aged 72.
Over 500 people attended his funeral in Aberdeen Crematorium after his death on the 15th of January. Amongst those to pay tribute to Mr. Bird was former North East MSP and current Glenrothes and Mid Fife MP Richard Baker. Writing in The Scotsman, Mr. Baker called Ron Bird a ‘distinctive figure’ whose ‘passion for political change’ was paired with ‘huge charisma, humour and a flamboyant, colourful dress sense.’
Mr Baker describes Ron Bird as a ‘popular and unique figure’ and credits this as the reason for Mr Bird’s election to President of the Student Representative Council, the predecessor to the Students’ Union in early 1995. Mutual friend David Walsh agreed, describing Ron as a ‘colourful character with long hair and colourful clothes whose position as a mature student and student parent gave him a different perspective which he brought to the SRC’.
Born in Birmingham in 1952, Ron moved to Aberdeen to work in oil and gas. Having worked in the sector for many years, Ron Bird became a prominent campaigner for improving health and safety on offshore platforms following the Piper Alpha disaster in 1988. His activism made it difficult to get work in the industry, so Mr. Bird enrolled at the University of Aberdeen in 1993 to study History and Geography. Activism remained a prominent trait throughout Ron’s life, including at University where he decided to take a break from his studies to run for President.
Speaking to The Gaudie in February 1995 during his election campaign, Mr Bird said:
“Okay, I have a couple more wrinkles than the other candidates but I’ve got a young outlook. I think that it will be policies that people vote on and not age. And I think my policies are winners.”
Ron was certainly right – his policies attracted 1076 votes, almost 400 more than the second place candidate Cameron Watt, and his election marked the beginning of a successful term as Student President. During his year in the role, he campaigned strongly against cuts to grant funding, and actively lobbied the University against price rises for accommodation, while also creating an SRC employability service. His efforts to campaign for affordable childcare on campus were particularly appreciated by both staff and students.
Mr. Bird was involved in a number of key decisions at the university, his most notable contribution as part of the committee appointing Sir Duncan Rice as the University Principal in 1996 with whom he developed a close friendship. Friends tell The Gaudie that Sir Duncan Rice once said Mr. Bird would make a ‘good CEO of an energy company’, but Mr. Bird devoted his life and career to the community instead.
A strong supporter of accountability, Mr. Bird was an advocate for the independence of The Gaudie. Speaking of his support for the paper, David Walsh said:
“He saw Gaudie as an independent institution. Ron was keen that Gaudie had its independence and was there to be critical of the SRC and the University. It was there to represent the student voice in addition to what the Union and the SRC did.”
It is hardly possible to list all of Mr. Bird’s achievements in one article. His work as SRC President covered many spheres, including launching Aberdeen Student Radio during his term, then called Slick FM. He continued working in community radio following his graduation from the university, contributing to SHMU over the years. Mr Walsh notes that: “Ron was a warm, generous, energetic person and nobody had a bad word to say about him.”
Having supported in the creation of AUSA in 1999 – an amalgamation of the SRC, the Union and the Sports Union – Ron continued making his mark in the city. His career after university saw him working in social work and community education. More recently, he founded local drumming band Guarana who can be seen at many events, having led the Grampian Pride parade in 2024, something which friends say he thought of as his biggest legacy.
Former University Court member Margaret Main remembers Ron’s time as Student President fondly:
“Ron was enthusiastic about everything he undertook, including his SRC Presidency. While representing students on Court he contributed a great deal to discussions on the future plans of the University for staff as well as students.”
Ron Bird is survived by his daughter Eve and his wife Roda.
In his election materials he described himself as ‘Sound as a Pound’ and if these tributes are anything to go by, then it seems he was spot on.
