Tributes have been paid to popular Cambuslang man and former councillor Andy McGowan. .
Mt McGowan died aged 87 in Hairmyres Hospital on Thursday, March 17.
He was well known for his work within the local community over many years.
Aged 18, he was called up for National Service and trained in a variety of different places before being sent to Egypt as an anti-aircraft gunner with the RAF Regiment.
He served there from 1953 to 1955 in the run-up to the Suez Canal Crisis.
In 2015, he was awarded a Canal Zone Award for his work in Egypt with the RAF Regiment.
Following that, he then returned to Cambuslang, where he lived all his life, returning to working at Clydesdale Steelworks.
He used to collect soft drinks bottles to raise money for veterans, and bought eight electric wheelchairs for the area.
From 1982 to 1985 he was a regional councillor and worked on the crime prevention panel.
He then went on to serve as a representative on South Lanarkshire Council from 1996 to 1998, where he worked on a variety of different projects.
Community stalwart Andy was involved in the setting up of the LEAP Project and worked with Gilbert Field Tenants’ Association as well as working with Cairns Tenants Association.
In 1997, he was awarded the British Empire Medal for services in the community.
Andy and his wife Myra had three children – Ian, David and daughter Fiona, who told Lanarkshire Live about her father’s incredible life, saying: “My dad was born on Church Street. He was the oldest son and he had two sisters, Sylvia and Margaret.
“He was so well known in Cambuslang and was loved by his family and his grandchildren.
“He did a lot, he used to do the Cambuslang Gala and when I was younger, we did the gala and we were all dressed up as crooks and he came dressed up as a policeman, he was always up for fun activities.
“When he would go on the bus, we would always keep spare carrier bags in his pocket in case anyone’s plastic bag broke and he could give them one if he needed it.
“When we were younger, my mum and dad would take us to Blackpool and when my parents retired they went to Rothesay and spent a lot of time with their grandchildren, Holly, Laura, and Ross.
“My mum and dad used to go out and see things, they used the dial bus, they were out three times a week, so still quite active.
“Yesterday (April 4) would be my mum and his 65th wedding anniversary.
“He was a lifelong member of the Labour Party and continued to help at local elections last year, by handing out leaflets at Cairns Primary School.”
Many locals have since posted tributes online commending his work.
Former Scottish Labour MSP and Scottish Labour General Secretary James Kelly told Lanarkshire Live: “I was saddened to hear of the passing of Andy McGowan.
“As well as being a long-standing councillor, Andy did a tremendous amount of work throughout the community in Cambuslang and Halfway. He was held in high regard by local people.
“On a personal level, he was always very good to me and supported all campaigns I was involved in. The first election I campaigned in was Andy’s victory in the Cambuslang/Halfway ward in 1982.
“My condolences go to Myra and the family at this difficult time.”
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