My Political Angel Has Earned Her Wings: A Tribute to Christina McKelvie MSP
The late Christina McKelvie MSP
Professor Joe Goldblatt
In the closing scenes of the classic Christmas film It’s a Wonderful Life the character named Clarence is an angel who is trying to do a good deed so he may earn his wings. He finally saves the life of the lead character in the story by showing him how much different the world would be if he had not been born. When he saves the man’s life a bell rings and the man’s daughter brightly says “Everytime a bell rings an angel gets his wings!”
When I learned today that my ebullient, wise, and generous friend Christina McKelvie MSP had passed away I took comfort from the depth of my despair by knowing in my heart that her good deeds in a short 57 years had given her the mightiest wings of any angel I have ever known.
We first met at an SNP conference when she rushed across the room and embraced me. When I relised she was a Scottish Government cabinet minister I was at first shocked and then gratified by her natural affection for others whom she admired and even loved. That was the start of a mutual admiration society that continued for many years as she selflessly led her ministries of first faith and belief and recently equalities and later alcohol and drugs.
Several years ago I learned she was suffering from cancer. To my astonishment, she worked even harder than before. I even felt guilty inviting her to events when I knew she was undergoing painful treatments for her disease. Whenever she could she turned up with a smile that brightened every corner of the room and she was usually the last one to leave. She was, in my experience, the hardest working political leader I have known given the challenges of her health that she faced with bravery, confidence, and courage.
We recently exchanged brief notes upon social media and I told her that she was in my daily Jewish prayers for a full recovery. She simply replied “God bless you.” Those three words exemplified how this strong woman always cared more about others than her own very serious struggles.
Once she turned up at the Scottish Poetry Library to hear my friend of 95 years of age read his original poems. When he finished she gave a vote of thanks that would make you believe we had just heard Tennyson, Kipling, Frost, and Sandburg reading their sonnets. She delivered her remarks with quiet charm and sincerity that I recall and treasure even today.
Every weekend I volunteer at a Cancer Research UK charity shop to help find a cure and treatments for my loved ones such as Christina and the millions I do not know who are suffering. When I make a sale and the till drawer opens a small bell rings.
Everytime I hear that ring I shall now think of one of the greatest friends I had the good fortune to love and be loved by and know that her strong wings have helped create an example for all of us to follow because good deeds indeed produce great wings.
Professor Joe Goldblatt is Emeritus Professor of Planned Events at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland. His views are his own.