South Lanarkshire Provost Margaret Cooper has died following a lengthy illness, the council announced on Wednesday. Flags at the authority's Hamilton headquarters are flying at half-mast in her memory.
Cooper, who represented the Avondale & Strathaven ward for 14 years, had served as provost since 2022 and was leader of the Independent Group of Councillors, part of the council's administration. She was praised for her “lifetime of public service,” including raising more than £100,000 for local charities through her Touch a Life initiative.
A Life of Service
Born and brought up in Bothwell, Cooper attended Uddingston Grammar before moving to the Strathaven area. She had a lengthy career in education and social work, previously chairing General Teaching Council disciplinary panels and participating in Scottish Government tribunals for young people with additional needs.
During her 14 years as a councillor, she served on South Lanarkshire’s executive committee and others including community and enterprise, finance, housing, and the East Kilbride area committee.
Touch a Life Initiative
South Lanarkshire Council said: “Her legacy includes the Touch a Life, Make a Difference fundraising initiative that she founded in 2024, and which raised more than £100,000 for local charities.” Cooper also served as a board member for Kilbryde Hospice and the David Livingstone Trust, and was instrumental in funding a life-size bronze statue on Strathaven’s Common Green honouring German Shepherd dog Rifleman Khan, who rescued his handler during World War II.
Tributes from Colleagues
Interim provost Bert Thomson, who served as her deputy, said: “All who knew and worked with Margaret will be deeply affected by her passing. I am personally very saddened by the news and I know everyone else will be too. Margaret cared passionately about our area and was a real force of nature – a true ‘bonnie fechter’ as we say. I was extremely honoured to have attended many engagements with Margaret and know first-hand her dedication and commitment to her role as provost.” He commended her “magnificent” Touch a Life initiative and added: “Margaret was also the driving force behind the Royal Regiment of Scotland being granted the Freedom of South Lanarkshire at a rousing ceremony in June 2023.”
SNP group leader Maureen Chalmers said: “Margaret gave her life to public service in education, as a councillor and supporter of many charities. I worked with Margaret during my time as depute council leader, co-chairing cross-party budget negotiations – not an easy task but we worked well together and found consensus. On behalf of the SNP council group, deepest condolences to her family and friends. May she rest in peace.”
Labour councillor Mo Razzaq said: “Margaret served our communities faithfully as a councillor, going on to become the civic head of South Lanarkshire as our provost – in that role, she was a warm and dignified ambassador for the area, always at her best among the people and communities she represented. Margaret was a remarkably strong woman who continued to work and serve right through to a very late stage in her illness. That tells you everything about her dedication and her character. She will be greatly missed across South Lanarkshire.”
Joe Fagan MSP, former council leader, said he was “deeply saddened” and added: “Margaret’s professional and public life has been a life of service. Margaret was part of the administration I led for four years, and was an extraordinary civic leader. She brought great experience from her teaching career and insights from representing Avondale & Stonehouse. She will be missed in her community and by colleagues across political divides, in South Lanarkshire and beyond – but her remarkable contribution to community life will be remembered for years to come.”
Community Impact
Glassford Community Group chair Les Hoggan posted on Facebook: “Margaret has been there for Glassford over the years, always happy to take up individual issues within the village and did so much for every community in her ward. She helped arrange the funding and delivery of over 100 meals to local pensioners a few Christmases ago, [raised] funds for everything from information boards through to the many projects she supported and helped fund at Strathaven Rugby Club. Our communities will miss her too.”
Kilbryde Hospice said: “Everyone at Kilbryde Hospice is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Provost Margaret Cooper. Margaret served both the people of South Lanarkshire and Kilbryde Hospice with dedication, compassion and kindness. As a former trustee, she gave generously of her time and unwavering support to our hospice and the community we serve. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Margaret’s family, friends, colleagues and all who knew her; our thoughts are with everyone mourning her loss.”
