Anniversary partytomark landmarkwin
pouring rain for the result. SNP flags seethed on a sea of TV camera-lit faces. A piper skirled, kids burned Union Jacks and Troy supporters bravely held Win With Dyer placards.
“Pandemonium broke loose in St John’s Grammar School as the result was announced.
“Winnie wins! Her fans went wild. This was what they had waited three hours for. Soaked? Who cared. The blonde lawyer in the pink leather coat had performed the miracle.
“Where were Labour now and their 16,500 majority? The Tories humiliated.”
Mrs Ewing became the SNP’S second MP following Robert Mcintyre, who briefly held the Motherwell seat in 1945. Hamilton will this week mark the 50th anniversary of the famous by-election victory from SNP trailblazer Winnie Ewing.
A celebration event – hosted by Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP Chrisitna Mckelvie – will take place in Low Waters Miners’welfare on Saturday evening.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will make the keynote speech while Mrs Ewing’s son and daughter Fergus and Annabelle Ewing, both MSPS, will be there along with the Deputy First Minister John Swinney, the rmembers of the Scottish Government and dozens of local dignitaries.
Ahead of the weekend, the First Minister said:“winnie changed Scotland’s world in 1967 and without her there would never have been a parliament to reconvene.
“Winnie’s role in Scottish history and her outstanding service is worthy of national celebration.
“She was a trailblazer for women in Scottish, UK and European politics.
“Her time in national life was marked with significant successes and by her constant promotion of Scotland’s national interest in Europe earning sobriquet of Madame Ecosse.”
Ms Mckelvie said: “Winnie is the immortal trailblazer of whom we all walk in her footsteps.
“To follow on from her as the representative for Hamilton is an honour but to call her my friend is the ultimate privilege.
“She is a great source of personal inspiration to me and inspires the work I’ve done for over 10 years as MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.
“Madame Ecosse put Scotland front and centre of the world stage – exactly where Scotland belongs. Winnie never tired of championing Scotland’s interests, whether as an MSP, MP or MEP.
“Tireless and fearless, Winnie led the way where I and many others would follow, and we will forever champion her greatest slogan‘stop the World, Scotland wants to get on’.”
Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley will also attend the event on Saturday.
She said:“winnie Ewing is a trailblazer, a fierce woman who stood up to a hostile Westminster as a lone SNP MP.
“She made the case for Scottish independence long before it was prominent in public debate.
“Winnie captured the heart of Hamilton and put our town on the political map.
“She made history for the SNP and championed the same causes we fight for and the freedoms we enjoy today.
“I am proud to follow in her footsteps as Hamilton’s MP, proud of the work she has done in the past and proud to carry on her legacy.