Jamie Stone MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross tables parliamentary motion honouring Highland great-granny and "lockdown legend" Margaret Payne
A Highland great-granny who raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity during the pandemic has been commemorated in the House of Commons.
Jamie Stone, MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, tabled the parliamentary motion in honour of Margaret Payne who passed away at the weekend aged 93.
The resident of Ardvar, Sutherland, became a ‘lockdown legend’ during the coronavirus pandemic after completing an incredible stair-climbing challenge to raise huge sums for the NHS, Highland Hospice and the RNLI.
• Great-granny completes her Suilven challenge
• Death of Highland heroine (93) who raised £435k 'climbing' Suilven during coronavirus lockdown
With a target of virtually climbing the height of local mountain Suilven, at 731 metres or 2398 feet high, she scaled the stairs in her home 282 times over a two-month period in 2021.
She drew inspiration for the challenge from Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised more than £33 million for the NHS by walking laps of his garden.
The MPs early day motion read: “That this House commemorates the life and achievements of Margaret Payne; acknowledges the huge contribution of £434,562 to the NHS, NHS Highland, Highland Hospice and RNLI raised through her tremendous fundraising efforts; notes that Margaret raised this money by climbing her stairs 282 times over 73 days or 10 weeks, equating to the height of Suilven – Scotland's Sugarloaf Mountain of 2,398 ft; and pays tribute to Margaret as an outstanding citizen and a dear friend.
Mr Stone said: "I was awfully sad to hear of Margaret's passing. She was a dear friend to many and a truly outstanding citizen.
“Tabling a Parliamentary Motion in her honour seems the very least I could do.
"She will forever be remembered for the huge feat of climbing the equivalent height of Suilven using just her stairs at home during lockdown.
“The money she raised will make a huge and lasting impact, and her legacy is safely secure in Highland history."
Mrs Payne was awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of her remarkable achievement in the Queen's Birthday Honours List later that year and was also commended in the Scottish Parliament, as well as receiving a letter of congratulations from Prince Charles.
She would have turned 94 today.
