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Life of Margo MacDonald celebrated at Edinburgh Assembly Hall Life of Margo MacDonald celebrated at Edinburgh Assembly Hall
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of people have gathered to celebrate the life of veteran politician Margo MacDonald, following her death at the age of 70.Hundreds of people have gathered to celebrate the life of veteran politician Margo MacDonald, following her death at the age of 70.
Her widower Jim Sillars, Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil and actress Elaine C Smith are leading tributes at Edinburgh's Assembly Hall. Her widower Jim Sillars told Edinburgh's Assembly Hall: "She was dusted with magic".
The Proclaimers will also perform at the event. Actress Elaine C Smith and Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil also paid tribute at the event, which included a live performance by The Proclaimers.
Ms MacDonald, who had Parkinson's disease, was hugely influential in the Scottish independence movement. Ms MacDonald had been suffering from Parkinson's disease.
She rose to prominence after winning the Glasgow Govan Westminster by-election for the SNP in 1973. She was a hugely influential in the Scottish independence movement, rising to prominence after winning the Glasgow Govan Westminster by-election for the SNP in 1973.
Ms MacDonald was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, serving as an SNP MSP for the Lothian region, before going on to represent the area as an independent member. She was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999, serving as an SNP MSP for the Lothian region, before going on to represent the area as an independent member after falling out of favour with the party.
She had been campaigning to legalise assisted suicide for the terminally ill.She had been campaigning to legalise assisted suicide for the terminally ill.
Ms MacDonald's family said the memorial was "not to be an occasion for mourning", and attendees have been asked to wear bright clothes. Mr Sillars, who was an MP during the 1970s and 1980s, described his wife as a star which "burst forth into Scottish life in all its splendour" when she won Govan.
The event, being led by humanist celebrant Bob Scott, will also feature a selection of Ms MacDonald's favourite country songs. "Thereafter, she captivated friends, opponents and the people of Scotland through her intellectual power, radiance, beauty, warmth humour, humanity and colossal talent for 41 years," he said.
It will end with a performance of the Proclaimers hit Sunshine on Leith - Craig Reid, one of the twins in the band, is married to Ms MacDonald's daughter. "Charismatic is an inadequate word for Margo - she was dusted with magic."
You can watch the event, due to begin at 1030, live on the BBC news website. Ms MacDonald's family said the memorial was "not to be an occasion for mourning", and attendees wore bright clothes.
The event, led by humanist celebrant Bob Scott, also featured a selection of Ms MacDonald's favourite country songs.
The Proclaimers performed their hit Sunshine on Leith at the event - Craig Reid, one of the twins in the band, is married to Ms MacDonald's daughter.