Glasgow's Former Lady Provost; Born September 17, 1941; Died May 3, 2007. Peggy Lally, who has died aged 65 after a two-month battle against cancer, bravely fought, was born Margaret Beckett McGuire, the daughter of John and Winifred (Dolly) McGuire.
She first met her future husband, Pat, when she was one of a number of noisy teenagers outside an important Labour Party meeting. Pat, as one of the younger party members present, was sent forth to quell the disturbance.
Later she recalled being impressed by his charm. By a happy coincidence a few years later it was Pat, as manager of McMurtries Outfitters in Trongate, who interviewed Peggy for an assistant's post.
It was to take Pat some time and a good deal of courage to get round to inviting his attractive assistant to an appropriately glittering social occasion, a Labour Party dance.
Their second date was to see the movie Dr Zhivago at the Coliseum Cinema on Eglinton Street.
They were married in September 1968 at St Martin's Church, Castlemilk, with a reception at the Trade Union Centre, attended by many leading Glasgow Labourites of the day. Peggy described the event ever after, not without irony, as "the wedding of the season".
The couple initially lived with Peggy's mother, Dolly, in Castlemilk but by the time of the birth of their first son, Robert, in late summer 1969, they were ensconced in their first flat in Pollokshields. A second child, Derek, was born in 1973. By this time Pat was a well established Glasgow councillor, his career in local politics in the ascendant. Throughout his career, which included terms as Leader of the Council and as Lord Provost, Peggy was supportive and by his side.
Her dedication and devotion to Pat was delivered alongside her meticulous care in running the household, her devotion and support of her sons and her care for her aunt, also Peggy, and later her mother; both of whom suffered from Alzheimer's disease. To this long list of responsibilities Peggy added her own career in sales which she restarted once her sons were of school age. As manager of Moss Brothers's ladies department, a post she held for nearly two decades, she demonstrated her humanity, good humour and a disarming honesty which endeared her to the store's clients and kept them coming back.
However, it was from 1996 and Pat's appointment as Glasgow's Lord Provost that Peggy's skills as an organiser, as an ambassador for the city and as a dedicated supporter of those with disability, illness or misfortune came to the fore.
She commented that the role of Lady Provost was not about wearing the chain or looking glamorous (both of which she achieved with seemingly effortless ease) but about serving the city and helping to raise the profile and indeed substantial funds for the many causes which were dear to her.
Her inauguration of the Lady Provost's Charity Fashion Show in 1997 was the start of a major fund-raising event which continues to this day. Involving celebrities and high-profile Glasgow retailers, the fashion show has raised substantial funds for, among others, the Prince and Princess of Wales' Hospice, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Alzheimer's Scotland.
Glasgow's Lord Provost officiates at innumerable public events, regularly meeting distinguished visitors including representatives of the Royal family and international delegations. Irrespective of who she was required to meet as Lady Provost, Peggy was unflappable, charming and demonstrated a pawky humour and a sense of fun.
In the years after the end of Pat's term as Lord Provost Peggy continued to work tirelessly for charity, particularly for Sense Scotland where she was a Board Member and in the Prince and Princess of Wales's Hospice shop. She was also active on the local political scene as vice-chair of the Simshill and Old Cathcart Community Council.
She continued to be supportive of Pat's political aspirations, working alongside him in two successive campaigns for the Cathcart constituency and in his more recent endeavours on the Glasgow regional list for the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party. The onset of her illness made her all the more determined to encourage the work of the Senior Citizens Party towards bettering conditions for all of Scotland's elderly and for disadvantaged pensioners.
Peggy was an extraordinary lady. She devoted her life to her family, to charity and to serving the city of Glasgow which she loved. She was funny, feisty and a privilege to know.
Peggy is survived by her husband Pat, her sons Robert and Derek, their wives Jennifer and Claire, her grandchildren, Catherine and Sarah, her sister Fredda and her aunts Peggy and Chrissie.
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