1 GLASGOW’S longest serving councillor of modern times and the city’s second female Lord Provost was a bold and bright breath of fresh air in local politics. Susan Baird (nee Reilly) was born in May 1940, in Dalton Street, Parkhead, and educated at St Mark’s Secondary School. She married husband George in 1957 and the couple had three sons and a daughter.

Susan Baird

Susan Baird

2 A staunch Labour Party supporter (she joined in 1969), Susan’s social conscience propelled her into politics, and she became a bailie, representing Braidfauld in 1975, then convenor of the manpower committee in 1980. Four years later, she became vice-convener of the powerful parks and recreation committee and held the position of Lord Provost from 1988 until 1992, overseeing the Glasgow Garden Festival of 1988 and the City of Culture celebrations in 1990. After her tenure as LP, Susan stayed on, and became convener of the economic and industrial development committee.

3 Her obituary in our sister title The Herald said he ‘brought a regal touch to her Lord Provost’s office overlooking George Square, but was never too grand to pour the tea for distinguished visitors.” Susan was instrumental in organising activities surrounding the campaign to free Nelson Mandela, hosting the launch of The End Of a Regime?, an anthology of Scottish-South African writing against Apartheid in 1991.

Lord Provost Susan Baird at the Parhead Forge August 1988

Lord Provost Susan Baird at the Parhead Forge August 1988

4 Susan was appointed CBE in the 1991 New Year Honours, and was the recipient of the 1991 St Mungo Prize, awarded to the individual who had done the most in the previous three years to improve life in the city of Glasgow. She retired in 2007.

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5 Sadly, Susan died two years later, aged just 68, from cancer. Never forgetting her roots, she always said that her proudest achievement was to improve the quality of life for people in Glasgow’s east end.