Tributes paid to long-serving councillor

Published: 3 June 2025

Tributes have been paid to councillor and former East Renfrewshire Provost Betty Cunningham who has died aged 79.

She had served her constituents in Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor for 26 years and her dedication to the area was recognised last year when she received a Lifetime Legend award at the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) and CCLA annual councillor awards.

Books of condolence have been set up at the council offices in Barrhead Main Street and at Eastwood HQ for members of the public to pay their respects.

Betty was first elected in 1999 and was Provost of East Renfrewshire Council from 2003 to 2007.

She received an OBE from the Queen in the New Year's Honours List of 2011 for services to East Renfrewshire and Malawi. She had first travelled to the African country in 2007 and set up a charity - the Betty Cunningham International Trust - which built a health clinic and nursery schools.

Council Leader Owen O'Donnell, who signed the book of condolence at the Council's Eastwood HQ, said: 'Betty's passing has left me with a great sense of grief and sorrow which will be shared by the wider Labour family, council staff and colleagues, the many lives she touched in Barrhead and East Renfrewshire and much further afield in her beloved Malawi. This all still feels so raw and a time of personal grieving. We will have time in the days and weeks ahead to more fully celebrate her life together. Social justice and the sense of what is right and wrong was ingrained in Betty's DNA. She was a ferocious fighter for the people of Barrhead and beyond and would leave then Prime Minister Tony Blair and First Minister Jack McConnell trembling in her wake! She had the biggest heart but was also great fun and someone you wanted to spend time with. Betty was no prouder than when she received the Lifetime Legend award at the LGIU awards last year. This was a fitting award and well-deserved tribute to mark her career. My thoughts and prayers remain with her family at this time who graciously welcomed me into their home so I could say my final goodbyes in the hours before Betty passed away. Betty will remain an inspiration for us all.'

Provost Mary Montague, who signed the book of condolence in Barrhead, added: 'Betty's death is a sad loss to her family, colleagues, staff, and many people locally and far and wide. Strong in character and often in her language, she was formidable in fighting for the best interests of Barrhead and East Renfrewshire. She was a determined champion for a just cause and, for anyone who found themselves in a difficult situation and asked Betty for help, they got it. Betty was a paradox of fiercely not pulling her punches when necessary to a woman of incredible empathy, compassion and love for fellow human beings. She was particularly supportive to my family at the time of a close family bereavement and a fundraiser for defibrillators was on her very full agenda of benevolence. She is well known for her many achievements for good causes like Malawi, but many will carry with them the memory of her quiet, loving, personal support. My condolences and my heart go out to Betty's family whom she loved with a passion and I hope they see from the hundreds of lovely messages on social media, just how much Betty was appreciated and the extent of her legacy of public service.'

Steven Quinn, Chief Executive of East Renfrewshire Council, said: 'As a new chief executive spending time with Betty as she took me around Barrhead (or Borrheid as I was often corrected), it was incredible to witness at first hand her passion and dedication for her community and the work she had done to support so many people. Betty was always thinking of others and took a special interest in helping people who were facing challenges in their lives. It was a privilege to get to know and work with Betty. Her death is a massive loss to her community and to East Renfrewshire Council. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.'

There were also tributes to Betty from across the political spectrum.

Councillor Gordon Wallace, leader of the Conservative group on East Renfrewshire Council, said: 'I was greatly saddened to learn of Betty's death. She will be greatly missed, not least by the people of Barrhead for whom she so tirelessly and passionately represented for over 25 years.'

And SNP group leader, Councillor Tony Buchanan, added: 'Betty was a stalwart in her community and a fearless fighter on behalf of that community. She was feisty and would not tolerate anyone who would decry her beloved Barrhead. She was also a great believer in equity at both home and abroad, the latter through the work of her Malawi charity. Betty stood up for people who needed support, gave them a voice and made sure the council delivered for them.'