Moray registrar to retire after 27-years of marking milestones in families’ lives

Liz joined the registrar service in 1998, initially seeing it as a part-time job, to keep her busy.

She admits she couldn’t have imagined the impact it would have on her life: “Back then I was living in Aberlour, and I lived opposite the local registrar - I remember saying to my husband that I wondered how you got that job! Back then, I didn’t consider that it might be something I would do.”

But a vacancy came up, Liz applied, and the rest - 27-years of it - is history.

She said: “Honestly, when I got the job it was a way of keeping me busy - I didn’t consider for one second that it would have become such a wonderful part of my life.

“But I’ve made so many friends and met so many wonderful people. It’s been a privilege to have been part of so many people’s lives and special occasions.”

Throughout her career, Liz registered an incredible 3752 births and officiated 534 marriages - including the weddings of both her daughters.  

She said: “That was a particular highlight for me. When I was asked in 2018 by my daughter Gillian to conduct her wedding, I actually thought she was joking!

“But when it became clear she was being serious, I was honoured. Strangely enough there was no added pressure - when it came to the day itself, my professional head went on and things went smoothly. 

“My other daughter Karen asked me to officiate her wedding in 2021. I want to make sure that every wedding I officiate is special – but it’s rare to conduct weddings that mean so much to me personally.”

Her son, she smiled, had made it clear she wouldn’t be officiating his wedding: “We’re both too emotional - that’s the problem! We’d be crying too many tears of joy to get through the ceremony!”

Liz explained her decision to retire: “I’m now starting to get people coming to get married, and when they bring in their birth certificate it was me who registered their births. Maybe that’s a sign that it’s time to go, I don’t know!

“But people have said to me that you always know when it’s your time, and I think that’s right - I know that it’s time for me to retire.

“And with all of those grandchildren of mine popping out of the woodwork - we’re up to number five now - I think it’s time to spend some time with them.

“I’m planning to move into a new role - spending more time being their granny.”