Oban man receives President’s Prize

AN OBAN man was honoured for 50 years’ service to the Scottish National Party at its winter conference.

Ken MacColl received the prestigious President’s Prize from Ian Hudghton MEP, president of the SNP. The prize is awarded annually to an individual who has served the party in an altruistic and loyal fashion over a long period.

Mr MacColl received a standing ovation from the 3,500 delegates. He thanked his many mentors, including Ian Hosack, the ‘bedrock’ of the SNP’s Loch Goil branch, who, in his nineties, stood in the searing heat of South Africa’s first democratic elections supporting Nelson Mandela.

‘On my political journey, I came across the sons of “King” John MacCormick. I participated in four elections, two of them successful, with Ian in Argyll. I last saw him terminally ill and walking with the aid of oxygen to record his vote in the 2014 referendum, the day before he died.

‘Ian’s young brother, Professor Neil, also contested Argyll and Bute on several occasions before his election as an MEP from 1999 to 2004, where he gained kudos and friends for Scotland with his considerable charm, his prodigious wisdom and his selfless personality.

‘My last nominee is Madame Ecosse herself, dear Winnie Ewing. I recall telling Winnie of an unsuccessful local election campaign and her upbeat response, “I take encouragement from this. We have tilled the soil this time round. We will win in future.” And so we did.’