Star quality of a night that hails our finest achievers
SCOTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
WHEN she presented the 1987 Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year trophy at the event’s grand silver jubilee, Princess Anne hit the nail on the head.
“You may not need or want recognition,” she told winner Susan Wighton, “but you set a wonderful example.”
It is true of every finalist, every winner through the decades – none of them seek the spotlight, and are much happier to work hard in the background, quietly changing the world in a wealth of wonderful ways.
SWOTY – we believe it to be the longest-running, unbroken female achievement award in the UK, having started in 1963 – is our tribute to them.
It shouts loudly about their achievements – because they never will – and celebrates the fantastic contribution they make to Scottish society.
Previous winners include Captain Mary Campbell, in 1975, who inspired our readers to raise more than £4,000 for a leprosy hospital in India; 1970 champion Peggy Herbison, the first woman to serve as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland; and the youngest ever woman to take the title, burns survivor Erin McNeill, in 2012.
There have been battling grannies – Jean Donnachie and Noreen Real, our 2008 winners, who forced the Home Office to stop dawn raids on asylum seekers; fearless campaigners, such as Ann Moulds, who changed anti-stalking laws in Scotland and across Europe; and outstanding charity champions, such as Olivia Giles, who lost her hands and feet to meningitis.
Guests of honour have included future PM Gordon Brown, and heartthrob newsreader Reginald Bosanquet; ‘international cabaret star Miss Eve Boswell’ and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon; late Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy and Hollywood actress Kate O’Mara.
The entertainment has ranged from up and coming talents from local schools to the cream of Scottish music and acting talent – Elaine C Smith, Barbara Rafferty, Karen Dunbar, Eddi Reader and Nicola Benedetti to name but a glorious few.
Of course, things have changed since the very first SWOTY – back then, it was a luncheon, held in the Gay Gordon’s restaurant, attended by 100 women from all walks of life. The late, great Scots actor Jimmy Logan was the guest of honour, and Alexander Gibson, then musical director of the Scottish National Orchestra, presented the rosebowl to winner Bessie Johnston, a Red Cross volunteer and tireless charity supporter.
The rosebowl is now a bronze trophy, the lunch is now dinner, supported by St Enoch Centre and hosted by our longtime supporters Glasgow City Council at Glasgow City Chambers, and the numbers have more than doubled.
The name now has its own hashtag attached (#SWOTY) and word is spread about the winner via social media networks, rather than having to wait until the next day’s newspaper hits the streets.
But the spirit of celebration and friendship still fills the room. The prize is still sought-after and held in high regard all over the country, from Balornock to Buckingham Palace.
And the women – the campaigners, the charity founders, the entrepreneurs, the inventors, the mothers, daughters and grannies – are still amazing.
Find out more about the history of SWOTY on our website, www.eveningtimes.co.uk