Thanksgiving Service to Honour Former Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman
A thanksgiving service has been announced to commemorate the life and legacy of former Scottish health secretary Jeane Freeman, who passed away earlier this month. The service will take place at the University of Glasgow this Saturday afternoon, following a private cremation ceremony.
Details of the Memorial Service
The thanksgiving service will be held in the university's historic Bute Hall, with arrangements made for the event to be livestreamed online to allow wider public participation. This follows tributes paid to Ms Freeman during a motion of condolence at the Scottish Parliament earlier this week, where colleagues remembered her significant contributions to Scottish politics and public health.
Career and Political Journey
Jeane Freeman, who died on February 7 at age 72 after a recent cancer diagnosis, served as MSP for the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency from 2016 to 2021. Her political career began much earlier, with her appointment as a senior civil servant during the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive in 1999.
She later served as a special adviser to then Labour first minister Jack McConnell before taking a leading role in the Women for Independence campaign group during the 2014 referendum. After joining the SNP, she was elected as an MSP in 2016 and quickly joined the government as minister for social security, where she established Scotland's first dedicated social security service.
Health Secretary During Pandemic
Ms Freeman's most prominent role came when she was appointed health secretary in 2018, a position she held until her retirement in 2021. During this period, she led Scotland's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, navigating the unprecedented public health crisis that defined her tenure. Her background as a former nurse informed her approach to the challenging decisions required during the outbreak.
The thanksgiving service represents an opportunity for colleagues, constituents, and the public to reflect on her dedicated service to Scotland during both normal times and extraordinary circumstances. The University of Glasgow location holds particular significance as a central Scottish institution appropriate for honoring a figure who played such a crucial role in the nation's recent history.
