TOMORROW marks the 62nd anniversary of the death of the first woman to become a Provost on the Lower Clyde.

Mrs Margaret Young was Provost of Gourock from 1932 until 1935. Although born in Helensburgh, she had been a Gourock resident for around 50 years when she died on 18 January 1951. She was elected a councillor in the 1920s and soon became a magistrate.

After being appointed the former burgh's first citizen, Mrs Young, who lived at 5 Binnie Street, fulfilled many important engagements.

She received the Duke of Windsor when he passed through Gourock on his way to Rothesay and was invited to numerous Royal garden parties at Holyroodhouse. During the First World War, Mrs Young joined the Gourock branch of the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families' Association and eventually became chairman of the Western Division.

She received a certificate of merit from Queen Mary for her work with the organisation.

She was predeceased by her husband and survived by two sons who lived in Canada.

The next former local burgh to have a female Provost was Port Glasgow, where Mrs E.L Bell was appointed civic head in 1955.

Mrs Elizabeth Martin became Greenock's first lady Provost in 1974 and was also the burgh's last Provost up to local government reorganisation which saw Inverclyde District Council come into being.

In 1996, Mrs Cathie Allan was the first Provost of Inverclyde Council.