Halfway through a council meeting is not when most people expect to find out they’ve become a grandfather for the first time.
But for Councillor John Cottee (in the top left screen), that’s exactly when it happened.
While chairing a meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Communities and Place Committee - which usually discusses roads, public spaces and buildings, he received a text from his oldest daughter Nicola, from Rushcliffe.
While someone else on the virtual committee is speaking - and Councillor Cottee’s microphone is on mute - he suddenly starts grinning and punching the air with all the pride of a new grandfather.
Councillor Cottee, who represents Keyworth for the Conservatives and is the chairman of the committee, said: “I was just absolutely thrilled to bits. I couldn’t remember what I was doing, to be honest. I just thought hell fire, it’s all happened.
“It was a bit of a shock to me in the middle of the meeting, when I’m trying to concentrate, it threw me out completely.
“I was gobsmacked. I was even being nice to politicians I’m not normally nice to.
“She (Nicola) rang me again this morning, and she’s absolutely thrilled as well.
“It’s just brilliant news, we’re just hoping we can all meet up at Christmas.
“I keep saying to my two daughters that I’m too young to be a grandad, I mean I’m probably not, I’m 66, but both Lorraine - my wife - and I are absolutely delighted.”
Asked what he was most looking forward to about becoming a grandfather, he said: “I was denied a train set as a young kid, so I’ve already ordered one. I haven’t told my wife I’ve ordered it though.”
