TWO grandmothers from a Glasgow housing scheme spoke of their pride for their community yesterday after being jointly crowned Scotswoman of the Year.
The efforts of Jean Donnachie, 67, and Noreen Real, 59, in using "people power" to repel Home Office dawn raids on asylum seekers at the Kingsway high-rise flats in Scotstoun - and their work to transform their community - were recognised at an awards ceremony in Glasgow sponsored by The Herald's sister paper, the Evening Times.
Donald Martin, editor-in-chief of the two papers and the Sunday Herald, said the "fairness, justice and compassion" shown by the women "symbolises everything Scotland stands for".
The grandmothers, who are to be the heroes of a movie by Scottish film director Ken Loach, yesterday played down their own role in preventing asylum seekers being dragged from their beds.
Mrs Donnachie said: "The award is for the community, not just for Jean and me. It is for all the people who came out every morning to help thwart the dawn raids."
She added: "As a token of our appreciation we have decided that the award should go on display in the Kingsway Health and Wellbeing Centre."
Mrs Real said: "We did what we did from our hearts to help our neighbours and friends."
Mary Miller, also a grandmother, was named International Scotswoman of the Year for her work at the Jeely Piece Club in Castlemilk. Scotland's Paralympic gold medal-winning cyclist Aileen McGlynn won the Scots Sportswoman of the Year title.
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