Parliamentary News Release
071/2004
25 November 2004
PARLIAMENT GIFTS PRESIDING OFFICER'S DESK FROM THE MOUND TO WINNIE EWING
Former MSP Dr Winnie Ewing has been gifted the Presiding Officer's desk at which she sat when she “reconvened” the Scottish Parliament after almost 300 years.
As the oldest sitting MSP in 1999 she was called upon to chair the first meeting of the Parliament in its temporary home at the Mound until a Presiding Officer was appointed.
Now that the Scottish Parliament is in its new home at Holyrood, the Presiding Officer's first desk is no longer needed.
While the rest of the furniture from The Mound will go to museums, universities, colleges and charities across Scotland , Dr Ewing wrote to Presiding Officer George Reid to ask if she could have the desk.
Mr Reid agreed it was an appropriate gesture to gift the furniture to Dr Ewing and so acknowledge her place in history. Dr Ewing has now put it in the centre of the drawing room at her Moray home.
Dr Ewing said:
“It's nice to be thought of in this way and the desk does hold a lot of sentimental memories for me. It's very significant.
“I had fought for a Scottish Parliament for a long tome so being allowed to open it was a great honour, although I was extremely lucky. I was only the oldest MSP by three months.”
When Dr Ewing opened the Parliament in its temporary home at the Mound in Edinburgh in 1999 she knew exactly what she was going to say.
She announced with pride:
“The Scottish Parliament, adjourned on the 25 th day of March 1707, is hereby reconvened.”
Of that experience, Dr Ewing says: “It was an amazing day.
“There was a real feeling of euphoria among both politicians and the public. Everyone was excited and I was so happy at being allowed to play such a major part in the proceedings.”
“I think the Parliament has more than lived up to its promise and is now vital to Scotland . I'm proud that I was there when it all started again.”
Dr Ewing now plans to write her second autobiography, focussing on her early career as a criminal lawyer at the Scottish Parliament desk.
She explained:
“I'm hoping it will bring me some inspiration because of the important part it played in the Parliament. I'm going to write a letter to George Reid warning that I'm going to hold him responsible if the desk doesn't work!”
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