 | 'Margaret always said she wanted to retire while she was still young enough to enjoy it.' Fergus Ewing MSP, 24 th March 2006. |  |
| 'Margaret always said she wanted to retire while she was still young enough to enjoy it.' Fergus Ewing MSP, 24 th March 2006. | |
Senior politicians from all parties will be among the mourners at the funeral of Moray MSP and SNP stalwart Margaret Ewing tomorrow.
It was confirmed last night that Education Minister Peter Peacock will represent the Scottish Executive, with SNP leader Alex Salmond leading a full turnout of nationalist MPs and MSPs.
The Scottish Parliament's presiding officer, George Reid, will also attend, as will the parliament's chief executive, Paul Grice.
The Scottish Conservatives were still undecided who would represent them.
Family, friends and constituents whom Mrs Ewing represented at Westminster and Holyrood for nearly 20 years will also say their final farewells.
Tributes during the service will be led by former SNP leader John Swinney, MSP for North Tayside.
Mrs Ewing died at her home in Lossiemouth on Tuesday at the age of 60 after several years of poor health. Her funeral will take place at 2pm at the town's St Gerardine's High Church, where her husband, Fergus, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, will lead the mourners.
The church and adjoining hall can accommodate 600 people, and arrangements are being made to have the service relayed to the church grounds outside if necessary.
The service will be conducted the Rev Thomas Bryson, who said he was sure there would be a very large turnout.
Mrs Ewing's political allies and opponents will set their differences aside as they pay their respects to a popular and hardworking constituency MP and MSP who championed the underprivileged, the elderly and the disabled.
She underwent surgery for breast cancer four years ago and was later struck down with pneumonia.
But she continued with her hectic schedule, and only two days before her death had spoken at the annual meeting of the Moray SNP Association.
Mourners at the funeral will be asked to give a donation to cancer research.
Mrs Ewing - the daughter-in-law of SNP matriarch Winnie Ewing - won Moray from the Conservatives in 1987 and served as the constituency's MP until 2001.
She was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and had intended standing down at next year's elections, citing her health problems as the main reason.
Moray Council has opened books of condolence at its libraries in Elgin, Lossiemouth and Buckie.
People wishing to leave messages of sympathy for Mrs Ewing's family can find the books in the library foyers.
Return to home page