Latest news with #ElizabethWood
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Tributes to a ‘force of nature' who fell in love with far-flung Malawi
Died: May 31, 2025. BETTY CUNNINGHAM OBE, who has died aged 79, was more than once described as 'a force of nature'. This is a quality I discovered for myself in late 2007 when I accompanied her to Malawi. The landlocked south-eastern African country and its people exerted a special fascination for Betty, and a foundation bearing her name had been constructing nurseries, a clinic and other much-needed facilities in Kaponda, an impoverished village an hour's drive from the capital, Lilongwe. We made the 17-hour-long flight to Lilongwe via Amsterdam, Nigeria and Zambia. When we landed, I was weary and craved nothing more than a stiff drink, something to eat, and an early night. Betty, however, was raring to go, and, sitting in the front passenger seat of a 4x4, she set to work and began a long succession of meetings with local officials. Betty, who at that time was the deputy provost of East Renfrewshire Council, was on her fifth visit to the country that year. Kaponda was an eye-opening experience. The villagers, back then, lived in clay-built, thatched-roof huts that were tiny, dank and unlit. Families slept on makeshift mats on the ground. Electricity and sanitation were unknown. I kept seeing Betty, and her distinctive hairdo, everywhere: talking to village elders, cradling infants and toddlers, and even, at one stage, admonishing a man who tried to take more than his fair share of donated clothes. The arrival of a lorry bearing boxes of blankets, duvets, clothes, teddy bears and football strips was a cause of communal celebration. 'We have such a thirst now for providing, because the need here is so great,' Betty said. 'We want to be part of providing for the orphans and the kids with families, to help them see a future that is more than just the things they see every day. I always get emotional coming here. I've got over the feelings of pity I had at first, and I know what is needed to give them hope and a real future. I've come to regard them as almost my own family.' Read more: In the days that followed, she would return with rice, flour and cooking oil, bicycles and sweets for the children. She was tireless, and seemed never to need a rest from her endeavours. Betty made countless visits to Malawi over the ensuing years, taking a substantial number of East Renfrewshire people with her, and when she received an OBE from the late Queen in the New Year's Honours of 2011, it was for services to East Renfrewshire and Malawi. East Renfrewshire Council said in a statement that the Betty Cunningham International Trust, as it was now known, had transformed the lives of people living in Kaponda. Elizabeth Wood was born on May 19, 1946 to William and Elizabeth Wood, of Barrhead. She was educated at the local St John's Primary and St John's High. She was working at the Wm Grant whisky bond, as a chargehand and a union representative when, towards the end of the 1990s she was asked by Walter McCready, a well-known local figure and a former provost of Barrhead and Renfrew District Council, to consider standing for election in his ward as he was due to retire. She agreed and went on to serve the Barrhead, Liboside and Uplawmoor ward in a steadfast manner for 26 years, working tirelessly on behalf of her constituents. As provost between 2003 and 2007 she enjoyed a high profile. West of Scotland MSP Paul O'Kane said she 'worked hard to make everyone feel like they were a VIP when the provost came to officiate at an event; this often included a run in the 'provost's motor''. She also raised thousands of pounds for charities. In 2007, then prime minister Tony Blair visited the area for a meet-the-people engagement: six tables, eight people apiece, all from a cross-section of East Renfrewshire society. At table two, Betty slipped a copy of the Barrhead News under Blair's nose. 'He's a local boy,' she said, pointing to a picture of Alex McLeish, the then manager of the Scotland team. 'My dear old auntie used to live in this constituency', the premier responded. A letter from Mr Blair was read aloud at Betty's funeral by Jim Murphy, the former Scottish secretary of state and MP for East Renfrewshire. East Renfrewshire council leader Owen O'Donnell paid his tribute, saying that social justice and Labour values were in Betty's DNA. Declining to take no as an answer to her ambitious plans for the area, he added, she would raise matters directly with Mr Blair and then first minister Jack McConnell. Mr O'Kane said Betty 'was Barrhead through and through. She loved the bones and the stones of the place, and was immensely proud to represent it on the council for more than two decades'. In a Holyrood motion commemorating her passing, he described her as 'a force of nature most often to be found on her mobile phone dealing with constituents' problems'. East Renfrewshire Provost Mary Montague said: 'Strong in character and often in her language, she was formidable in fighting for the best interests of Barrhead and East Renfrewshire. She was a determined champion for a just cause and, for anyone who found themselves in a difficult situation and asked Betty for help, they got it'. Tributes were also paid by Kirsten Oswald, a former SNP MP for East Renfrewshire, and by Jackson Carlaw, Conservative MSP for Eastwood, who, in a post on X, said: 'While always full of mischief East Renfrewshire Labour councillor & former Provost Betty Cunningham ... was respected for her lifetime of service to & pride in her Barrhead home town. A true character'. Last year Betty was presented with the Lifetime Legend award at the Local Government Information Unit awards. Daughter Helen said: 'She was an amazing person who lived for others. When she was on the council she loved meeting all sorts of people, from school kids to pensioners' groups, and she was brilliant when it came to helping people in need. She fell in love with the people of Malawi, too. I'm proud of everything she achieved'.
CTV News
12-08-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
‘It's a win in terms of his domestic popularity': Russia specialist on Putin meeting with Trump
Watch Russia specialist Elizabeth Wood on if the meeting can produce anything meaningful without Zelensky present.
CBS News
15-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Sickened brown pelicans overwhelming Orange County animal care center
Wildlife officials are seeking help covering the massive amount of resources necessary to care for more than 600 patients being cared for in Orange County, including more than 50 recently sickened brown pelicans. "Our seabirds are in dire need of help! Domoic acid toxicity is a very serious problem that's leaving our birds in terrible shape," said an Instagram post from the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach. Related: Long Beach teenager recovering after sea lion attack Officials say that many of the birds are unable to eat on their own, which they attribute to a domoic acid outbreak currently impacted much of the marine life off the Southern California coast. Over the last few months there have been an increased amount of incidents related to sick sea lions and other creatures, including two whales that were recently found washed ashore within a week's time, though wildlife officials have not yet revealed if their deaths were related to the outbreak. "Feeling the effects of a very, very large number of intakes, very severe clinical signs and unfortunately a rather low survival rate. Even with treatment," said WWCC Dr. Elizabeth Wood. "It does seem worse than the previous episodes that we've treated." Last year, at around the same time, dozens of sick and starved brown pelicans similarly began to overwhelm wildlife officials. As they continue to try and care for all of the creatures that need their help, WWCC is asking for donations that include towels, flat sheets, toilet paper and some various cleaning and medical care supplies. A full list of items they're seeking can be found on their website .
