Back in the Seventies, Marie Burns had talented musical parents who worked in clubs alongside the likes of the legendary Billy Connolly.
She watched in the wings as mum, Mary and dad Jimmy were the singer and pianist respectively in a band who toured everywhere, with Jimmy later starring at the South Beach Hotel in Troon.
However at the same time, Marie was heading for the political spotlight.
Now she is on centre stage - as the SNP Group Leader for North Ayrshire in this week’s council elections,
Recalling her baptism into politics, she said: "In 1973 my dad was a supporter of Scottish independence and I was kind of blown away by Margo MacDonald, the SNP candidate who was standing in the Govan By-Election.
“I went to the Rooms at Govan to help, I was folding envelopes and letters and going out on the street with Margo and when a voter asked for a poster she asked me to organise it. Margo was fearless and that was an inspiration.
“Because of her, people took a great interest in politics. I was also part of the 79 Group, who wanted to push the SNP to the left, We only lost a vote for independence because we didn’t have 40 per cent of all those eligible to vote,” she said.
In the 80s, Marie focused on being a local member of the SNP. She lost a few elections and worked for a long time with Scottish Enterprise.
However in 2012 she stepped into the limelight when she was elected as a Councillor and took on the role of Group Leader for five years.
Asked why she got involved Marie said: “The thing you enjoy is what frustrates you the most by supporting your constituents. It feels good to be able to help people who come to you to get issues resolved but it feels very frustrating when you can’t. In the last few weeks I know a few people on the housing waiting list and are desperate for a house. These are not the days where if you know a councillor you get a house.
"But you have to tell them there is a process and a points system and I can check up the process has been followed but that’s all I can do.”
Asked how she would improve the area, Marie said: “North Ayrshire is all about community and we need to help our people prosper.
“We need jobs, but good quality jobs which pay well and which are sustainable.”
