Moray finds its local hero
A LOCAL hero for Moray has been chosen to take part in the celebrations for the opening of the Scottish Parliament.
Margaret Cowie, community warden for Forres, was picked from a number of nominations by local MSP Richard Lochhead.
Mrs Cowie will take part in the riding procession to Holyrood, alongside MSPs and representatives of different aspects of Scottish culture and society on July 1.
Her Majesty The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, presiding officers and the First Minister will greet those arriving in front of the Scottish Parliament building for a ceremony which will celebrate the opening of the new session of Parliament. And Mrs Cowie and her husband Bill will take the opportunity to spend a week in Edinburgh after receiving an invitation to the Queen’s garden party on July 5.
She said: “You get nice little surprises along the way in this job and this was a lovely one.
“We’ve been invited to the Queen’s garden party four days later. My husband has been involved with Victim Support for 20 years and I’ve been involved for 17.”
As well as her duties as a community warden, Mrs Cowie is involved in sport coaching, litter picks, the green dog walkers’ initiative, Forres in Bloom and Film Forres.
Fund-raising is currently underway to improve the facilities for the film project, which holds movie shows for youngsters in the town hall.
Around £10,000 is needed to reach the £37,500 target to upgrade seating and install equipment for the benefit of the community.
Pupils at Forres Academy are helping raise money for the project through enterprise schemes.
Mr Lochhead said he chose Mrs Cowie as Moray’s local hero because of her involvement with the community both professionally and in her own time.
“The effort Margaret puts in is summarised very well in one of the nominations I received for her,” he added.
“The correspondent said: ‘Margaret’s enthusiasm and drive adds much to the quality of life of every age group in Forres. She works tirelessly for the local community both in her own time and in her official role as community warden.’”
Mr Lochhead added: “I am delighted that Margaret will be the local hero for Moray, as she has proven herself to be an outstanding contributor to community life.”
