Martin Whitfield MSP welcomed his local hero Ruth Davie to Holyrood today for the official opening ceremony of the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament.

Ruth, who was joined by her mother Jessie for the event, was chosen because of her work supporting local people through the Fundamental Foods project at the Pennypit Community Development Trust in Prestonpans.

The opening ceremony included a speech by HM the Queen, a programme of music and entertainment from across Scotland and a special reception celebrating the contributions of the various local heroes selected by MSPs to attend the ceremony.

Commenting, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome Ruth and her Mum to Holyrood for the Scottish Parliament’s opening ceremony. We had a wonderful morning to celebrate the opening of the sixth session of parliament and contemplate the challenges that lie ahead for parliamentarians and the nation as we recover.

“I’m really pleased that Ruth was able to attend and help represent East Lothian at the opening. After going through such a difficult time over the last 18 months, I felt that her commitment to helping people was symbolic of the collective efforts made by local communities and individuals throughout the pandemic.”