Hugh Henry MSP for Renfrewshire South: Neilston War Memorial

25 Mar 2015

Neilston War Memorial

Like the men they will honour with a unique monument the members of the hard working Neilston War Memorial Association never gave up the fight to raise enough money to build a lasting tribute to the men who lost their lives fighting for their country. It’s not been an easy road but then these things never are and as building begins everyone who has helped in any way can be proud of their efforts. After 100 years the young brave soldiers from the village who lost their lives in WW1 will get the honour they deserve. So too will those who lost their lives in WW2 and other conflicts since in the first memorial for the village. An incredible £68,000 has been raised. Credit should be given to those who have made this happen. Councillor Paul O’Kane and the NWMA have been at the forefront of the campaign. My old schoolmate Jimmy Higgins and his cousin John McGuire raised £20,000 on an epic trek from Neilston to Vimy Ridge in France where their grandfather was gassed - to raise funds. The Whitelee Windfarm Fund donated £5,000 and many locals organised various events to make every penny count. Congratulations to every single person who made this happen.

About Hugh

Hugh Henry is a Scottish Labour politician first elected a Member of the Scottish Parliament in1999 when he represented Paisley South. He was appointed Deputy Minister for Health and Community in 2001and moved to Deputy Minister for Social Justice in 2002. He became Deputy Minister for Justice after the Scottish Parliamentary Elections in 2003 and Minister for Education in 2006. Hugh collected the Scottish Politician of the Year award in 2010 and won the newly created Renfrewshire South seat in 2011. He was raised in Erskine, Renfrewshire and educated at St Mirin's Academy, Paisley, at the University of Glasgow and Jordanhill College in Glasgow. He has worked as an accountant, a teacher and as a welfare rights officer. He was a local councillor from 1984 until 1999, including four years as leader of Renfrewshire Council. He is married with two daughters and a son.