Moray Council moves to cut links with slavery-linked Dick Bequest Trust

MORAY Council has voted to effectively cut its ties with a controversial trust fund which has links to the slave trade.

The council made a decision to stop publicising the Dick Bequest Trust in October 2021 and to lobby trust governors and the Scottish Government to wind up the trust.

However, a motion put forward by Councillor Jérémie Fernandes (Elgin North, SNP) urging the council to remove its appointee from the board of the trust was unanimously agreed upon by councillors this morning.

Cllr Fernandes said: "It is uncomfortable having links with the Dick Bequest Trust. It was wrong then and it is wrong now.

"We should minimise the horror of the slave trade. For any organisation to have links with the slave trade is morally wrong.

"There is an element of reputational damage to keeping links with the fund."

Councillor Kathleen Robertson (Forres), Moray Council leader, said that the right decision had been taken to withdraw from the trust.

She said: "The next step in making this situation better is to wind up the trust and we’ll continue to lobby for that to happen. Whether or not repatriation of monies is feasible, possible and legal remains to be seen but we’ll take advice on how we can support that if so.”

James Dick, born in Forres in 1743, was a successful merchant in the West Indies and then London later in his life.

Following his death in 1828, he left £113,787 to encourage "learning and efficient teaching" in Elgin, Banff and Aberdeenshire.

Moray schools have benefited from the fund to the tune of around £15,000 every year.

However, research has found that the merchant was involved in the sale of more than 500 slaves shipped from Africa in 1779.

That has led to calls from historians to re-direct the funds to benefit people in Jamaica.

While the council has no direct control over the trust, it is required to nominate a councillor to sit as one of 10 governors who assess applications to the fund.

Councillor Neil McLennan (Buckie, Independent) was previously a trustee of the fund but resigned before the full meeting of the council this morning - a move which was welcomed by councillors.

Cllr McLennan said: "The horrors of slavery have been well laid out.

"I thank the many historians for their work on this in making sure there is full understanding of Scotland's past.

"I put myself forward for nomination to this trust because I had hoped to reform it from within.

"Many teachers have benefited from the funds and education in the north east has benefited.

"But I think it is the right time for Moray to progress with this motion.

"I do, however, remain of the view that the trust should be reformed for positive good but given where we are just now, the council should move not to appoint a council representative."

Moray and Aberdeenshire Council each appoint three of the 10 trustees of the fund, with the rest put forward by Aberdeen University and the Society of Writers to the Signet.

Recently, both Aberdeen University and the Society of Writers have refused to appoint trustees, while one of the Aberdeenshire Council appointees has refused to take up his position.

Cllr Fernandes added: "It’s time to sever ties with the Dick Bequest and reiterate our request that the scheme be wound up."