Winne Ewing makes an emotional return to Hamilton to open MSP’s office

Nov 10 2011 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

THE SNP winner of the mould-breaking Hamilton by-election of 1967 made an emotional return to the constituency this week.

Winnie Ewing was in town on Tuesday to open the new office of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP Christina McKelvie, who won the Holyrood seat from Labour in May’s election.

Mrs Ewing, now aged 82, was looking frail and required a stick to walk, and there was a slight tremor in her voice, but she had lost none of her spirit.

She regaled an audience – composed of community figures and party supporters – about the run-up to the 1967 by-election, her momentous win and her years in Westminster representing the constituency.

She was also joined by members of her 1967 campaign team.

Mrs Ewing said: “Hamilton was a great awakening. It was Hamilton that put us on the map. I always feel a tremble when I come here. It is such an emotive thing altogether. I’ll always remember the warmth of the people of Hamilton.

“All the towns and villages like Blantyre and Dalserf, they are all very dear to me. I can’t tell you what it means to me to come back. No-one can take away those years from me.”

Ms McKelvie expressed delight at having Mrs Ewing open her constituency office at Barncluith Business Centre in Townhead Street.

Arm in arm, the MSP helped Mrs Ewing into the office and the veteran politician quipped: “We didn’t have anything as posh as this when I was in Hamilton.”

Ms McKelvie introduced Mrs Ewing as “one of my icons,” adding: “It’s wonderful to have her here.”

The MSP also stressed she wished to have community representatives at the opening as well as party activists.

Ms McKelvie pointed out: “It’s not my constituency office. It’s your constituency office.

“We are here to help as much as we can. We’re not promising we can do everything but we will do what we can.”

She said she had been blessed to be the MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and vowed to “work hard for the next five years and more after that”.

However, she observed – in contrast to what Mrs Ewing recalled – that the Labour Party which had fought against her had done so with dignity.

She added: “They were very kind. It’s not nice being the losing candidate.

“Lots of people from across the constituency have been very supportive.

“I will endeavour to make it a better constituency for us all including the Labour Party.”