Meeting of the Parliament 02 April 2025
Bright, breezy, with a brilliant smile bursting into a room—that was the Christina McKelvie I first met more than 20 years ago and how I remember her to this day. I was leading a training day for SNP women, and that bright spark of a woman—an active trade unionist, a feminist and a gallus, articulate woman—related how she was an organiser and an engine room election agent, but never candidate material. However, I saw that potential, and she credited—or blamed—me, along with Nicola Sturgeon, for getting her to stand in the subsequent election.
I got to know her fierce passion for tackling inequalities when she was my parliamentary liaison officer for the education portfolio, shortly after she was elected. Following that, she was a fine committee convener, navigating the European and External Relations Committee, and then the Equalities and Human Rights Committee, where she thrived and excelled.
All the kind comments that were made by MSPs across the political divide last week demonstrated that, with her sheer force of personality and kindness, she must be the MSP who has impacted the most on so many in this Parliament.
She used her time as a back bencher to reach out and connect with others. Her warm personality, empathy and compassion made an impact on her constituents, and she clearly relished serving her constituency. During the pandemic, I automatically thought of her and her trade union background and asked her to work with Jamie Hepburn to co-ordinate the recovery plans in preparation for reopening workplaces, working with unions and employers. I was so pleased to see the Scottish Trades Union Congress pay tribute to her this week.
Of course, she wore her brightest, beaming smile when she talked with pride of her sons—her boys who have grown up to be such fine young men—and of her pride in becoming a granny recently. Anyone in the company of Keith and Christina as a couple saw the love, affection and joy that they found in each other, although I am never sure how she really felt about affectionately being called “doll” and “hen” by our dear friend Keith.
Christina McKelvie had a curious mind. She loved to learn about and explore new things, and she had an encyclopaedic knowledge of astronomy. For her, the world and space were big and needed to be explored. That big world is smaller with her passing, but she made it brighter by being part of it. It has been a privilege to know Christina McKelvie, and it is now a responsibility to learn from her. My thoughts are with all who loved her. [Applause.]
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