NICOLA Sturgeon has paid tribute to her uncle and well-known former journalist Iain Ferguson.
Ferguson, from Ayrshire, died overnight on Thursday following a “short illness”.
The “ferocious journalist” - who interviewed the likes of Bing Crosby and Richard Harris - joined the Record in 1989 as a news reporter and in 1996 was appointed deputy chief reporter. A decade later he moved to the Sunday Mail and worked his way up to becoming assistant editor.
Sturgeon shared a thread of tweets with followers on Twitter about her late uncle and how they “constantly” texted each other about book recommendations.
She wrote: “My wonderful Uncle Iain, known to many in the journalist world, has passed away.
“Iain was the editor of several Ayrshire papers in his younger days and later assistant editor at the Daily Record and Sunday Mail. He was latterly head of PR Ayr Racecourse.
“I hero-worshipped Iain when I was a wee girl and have looked up to him all my life. He and I shared a love of books and constantly texted each other recommendations.
Sturgeon added: “I will miss him so much. My love to Elaine, Emma, Lorna, his beloved grandkids, my mum, and Uncle Scott.
“This interview with my Uncle Iain from 2009 is a lovely overview of his life and career. RIP Iain.”
:broken_heart: My wonderful Uncle Iain @iainfer, known to many in the journalist world, has passed away. Iain was the editor of several Ayrshire papers in his younger days and later assistant editor at the @Daily_Record & @Sunday_Mail. He was latterly head of PR @ayrracecourse 1/ pic.twitter.com/YcGZTib3lz
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) July 27, 2023
The former first minister also shared an interview from the Daily Record with the headline, “10 minutes with... Iain Ferguson”.
In the interview, when asked about his “famous niece”, Ferguson said: “Yes, my niece is Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. She is the oldest daughter of my big sister Joan and her husband Robin.
“My late mum and dad would be so proud to see what Nicola’s achieved in politics – I have the greatest respect and admiration for those who reach the very top of their chosen career. Nicola has done that and is the most powerful woman in Scotland, but to me she’ll always be my niece Nic.”
