FORMER Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has described one of the students who repatriated the Stone of Destiny as an "inspirational force" following her death.
Mr Kennedy praised his one-time election opponent Kay Matheson, whose death at 84 is being mourned by the political world after it was announced at the weekend.
The pair stood against each other in an election in 1983, with Ms Matheson campaigning for the SNP.
Mr Kennedy said: "The redoubtable Kay was a truly remarkable character, one of whom I was truly fond and someone who was tremendously kind towards me.
"I was apprehensive in the extreme when I first stood locally in 1983 to find Kay – of Stone of Destiny fame – as my SNP opponent. In fact, we hit it off so well that a firm friendship was formed.
"She was an inspirational force. Many will know of her from the history books – but many others will hold her in the highest regard for her teaching and community commitment in Inverasdale and far beyond."
He said the Highlands, Scotland and humanity had lost a "gifted and truly good person" and said it had been a privilege to enjoy her friendship.
Rob Gibson, SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said "Kay Matheson was an iconic figure of quiet determination. Her exploits in retrieving the stone made her one of the immortals you could say in Scottish Nationalist history."
Ms Matheson became a nationalist icon after the heist on Christmas Day in 1950. But he said she would be remembered locally in Wester Ross as a teacher and as someone who helped revive Gaelic in her area.
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