MEMORIES of former First Minister Alex Salmond on a high profile visit to Largs have been recollected following his sad passing on Saturday afternoon.
The ex MP and MSP, who led Scotland between 2007 and 2014, became ill while attending an international conference in North Macedonia.
Mr Salmond led the Scottish National Party to power when they won the Scottish Parliament election in 2007, having previously been the party's leader between 1990 and 2000.
He led the pro-independence vote ahead of the referendum in 2014, and resigned after Scottish voters backed remaining in the UK by 55 per cent to 45 per cent.
He visited Largs Main Street in February 2011 to meet supporters and was interviewed by the Largs and Millport Weekly News.
The News was granted an exclusive interview with Mr Salmond, upon visiting the town at the beginning of an election campaign to support local candidate Kenneth Gibson to become an MSP.
During our interview, Mr Salmond firmly backed the policy of free prescriptions, and bus passes for pensioners, and said: "When you put into the equation Westminster cuts against Scottish resources, Scotland is way ahead in the balance sheet which is why we should run both sides - revenue and expenditure.
"All these things I believe in - free education, bus passes and the right of elderly people to go round this country.”
Mr Salmond also stated that carrying on with a nuclear future would be ‘utter madness’ with an expensive form of energy in nuclear power, and stated that Hunterston was well situated to help serve Scotland as an international leader in the ‘marine engineering centre of Europe’.
Hunterston nuclear power station was to later close in 2021, and the site is now subject to a £1.7 billion cable manufacturing facility.
He said: "Hunterston should be part of our national planning framework; it is a magnificent deepwater resource."
Mr Salmond thanked readers of the News at the time for 'asking such lively political questions' and said: "This is the seat - Cunninghame North - which won the election for the SNP in 2007, so keep your eye on Largs."
Following the former First Minister's untimely death, Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson paid tribute: "Like the entire pro-independence movement I was shocked to learn of Alex Salmond’s sudden death earlier today.
"Alex was not only a giant of Scottish politics who bestrode its stage for four decades, he was SNP leader for 20 years.
"And the First Minister who secured Scotland’s first independence referendum and took us so close to victory.
"Alex’s death will inevitably be felt mostly by his family and my heartfelt condolences go out to them at this very sad time.
"Scotland won’t be the same without him!"
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here