Winnie Ewing called the 'true radical spirit of Scotland' at Inverness memorial service

The heavens opened and thunder was heard just as Winnie Ewing's memorial service at Inverness Cathedral was about to begin. An appropriate beginning to the memorial service for a woman who was prepared to go against the grain to deliver.

Mrs Ewing’s memorial service at Inverness Cathedral yesterday afternoon saw three First Ministers past and present attend alongside dozens of SNP MPs and MSPs to honour and celebrate the life of a woman known as a true Independence icon.

It also attracted those from other points on the political spectrum with leading representatives from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and the Greens as well – evidence of the high regard she was held in by so many.

Those in attendance were: First Minister Humza Yousaf, former First Ministers Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, MPs Drew Hendry and Joanna Cherry, MSPs Kate Forbes, and Richard Lochead.

The Scottish Parliament’s presiding officer Allison Johnston was there as was former MSPs Tavish Scott, John Finnie, and Alex Neil who delivered the second eulogy after Alex Salmond.

True radical spirit of Scotland

Mr Salmond perhaps best captured the feelings of many in attendance when he said Winnie Ewing was the “true radical spirit of Scotland” and the “sort of spirit that Scotland needs – needed then and so desperately, desperately needs now.”

On her political legacy, Mr Salmond said: “Her steadfast love of country and her pole star of independence. Thus even opponents who vehemently disagreed, still respected this and Winnie and therefore her cause.

“Fellow SNP members who argued with her – and there were a few from time to time – still liked her and, by and large, she liked them. All of this made Winnie Ewing the most significant Scottish nationalist of the 20th century.

“Winnie never held office but you don’t have to hold high office to achieve something. Just as you can hold office and achieve nothing.

“Winnie had concrete achievements – objective one status for the Highlands, her work on Erasmus, she brought the Lomé Convention to this very city, to which she devoted a fascinating chapter in her autobiography, edited by Michael Russell.

“But her real achievement was to tilt the axis of Scottish politics, to put Scottish independence on the map and help define it as a positive, forward-looking, internationalist force.

“All that and to define it in one single phrase ringing through the years: ‘Stop the World – Scotland wants to get on.’”

Gay Byrne Burnt

In his address to the service he also retold an amusing story about a rough interview on the Late, Late Show in 1969 with Gay Byrne.

Mr Salmond said: “When it came to the Show itself, Byrne was condescending to the point of downright rudeness about Scottish nationalism and although Winnie, with her hackles well and truly up – I pause for you all to remember Winnie with her hackles up – so Winnie gave as good as she got, but it was still a very bruising experience.

“Forward to the next day at the departure lounge at Dublin airport, awaiting the plane back to London when a message came through the tannoy – could Mrs Ewing lift a green phone – and was promptly escorted to a secure room by two uniformed soldiers.

“At the other end of the line was Éamon de Valera himself. He had watched the program and wanted to apologise for the effrontery and treatment of Scotland’s favourite daughter. He would, he informed Winnie, be making a complaint.

“Now, every politician in this Cathedral has had a bad television interview from time to time, but Winnie and only Winnie has been able to secure a personal apology afterwards, from the Head of State.”

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