THE SNP’s Westminster leader has led tributes to a veteran independence campaigner who has died aged 90.
Stephen Flynn said that Nancy Duthie, who designed the SNP's famous black and yellow rosette, had passed on “in the warm company of her family, friends and carers”.
Announcing the news of her passing on social media, the Aberdeen South MP said: “Received news today that Nancy has sadly died.
“She had just celebrated her 90th birthday in the warm company of her family, friends and carers.
“A lovely woman who will be missed by so many.
“In our movement, we stand on the shoulders of giants.”
Received news today that Nancy has sadly died. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday in the warm company of her family, friends and carers. A lovely woman who will be missed by so many. In our movement, we stand on the shoulders of giants 🏴. https://t.co/BQA23Mx4az
— Stephen Flynn MP (@StephenFlynnSNP) October 4, 2023
Other SNP figures also paid tribute, with Drew Hendry MP writing: “Lovely woman, sad to hear of her passing.”
Dr Mairianna Clyde wrote: “She was wonderful. A bonnie fechter gone.”
And the North Ayrshire SNP group wrote: “Nancy and her like are the fabric of our movement. This was such a touching and human side of Stephen and it was lovely to see.
“Rest in Peace Nancy.”
In May, Flynn had visited the then-89-year-old and shared her story about the designing of the now famous SNP black and yellow rosette.
Duthie, who much to the delight of many social media users was speaking in Doric, told the SNP Westminster leader: “The rosette started fan Gordon asked ma ti mak a few rosettes in different colours, an tak them to the constituency meeting.
“So that’s what I did and yellow and black was chosen.”
Duthie needed assistance breathing as she had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). She explained that black represented “the past” and that gold meant “the future”.
Flynn asked Duthie if she was the “brains” behind choosing the famous colours but she said it was “just luck” finding two colours that went together.
The pair joked that the rosette suited Flynn. “Just as well,” he said.
Duthie, alongside her husband, had been an active member of the Cairnbulg/Inverallochy SNP branch since the 1960s.
She used to organise day trips and picnics for the branch, and even went down to the harbour on election days to make sure the fishermen had their proxy vote in before they set off to work.
