Plenary, 02 Jun 1999
Meeting date: Wednesday, June 2, 1999
Official Report
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Kenny Macintyre
This week, with the death of Kenny Macintyre, this Parliament and its press gallery lost a good friend and a fine broadcaster. Scotland has lost a unique voice—a voice that would have reported and interpreted our proceedings like no other. The tragedy is that Kenny, who awaited this Parliament with such expectation for so long, has left it so suddenly and so soon.
All of us who were privileged to work with Kenny, be it in the BBC newsroom or the hurlyburly of politics, know that he was a man with all the qualities of a great reporter: informed judgment; independence of mind; quite extraordinary perseverance in pursuit of a story; an ability, despite his frenetic flurry of activity, always to meet his deadlines; and a contacts book without equal. This Parliament will wish to record its appreciation of a life well lived in public service and to convey to Kenny's family and widow, who are with us today, our respect, condolences and deep sympathy.
Finally, I propose to the Parliament that, as a permanent memorial, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body should institute, in conjunction with his family and with press colleagues, the Kenny Macintyre annual award, to be given to the press or broadcasting journalist who has provided the best coverage of our proceedings. That would help to recognise in others some of the unique qualities that Kenny brought to his trade. [Applause.]
Are members in agreement with Mr Reid's proposal?
Yes.
Thank you very much.