Councillor Cooper had a lifetime of public service in social work and education before becoming an elected member for Avondale and Strathaven (Ward 5) in 2012. She was elected Provost in 2022.

Her legacy includes the Touch a Life, Make a Difference fundraising initiative that she founded in 2024, and which raised more than £100,000 for local charities.

Interim Provost Bert Thomson said: “All who knew and worked with Margaret will be deeply affected by her passing. I am personally very saddened by the news and I know everyone else will be too.

“Margaret cared passionately about our area and was a real force of nature – a true ‘bonnie fechter’ as we say. I was extremely honoured to have attended many engagements with Margaret. I know first-hand her dedication and commitment to her role as Provost.

“As well as her magnificent Touch a Life initiative, it was also Margaret who was the driving force behind The Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS) being granted the Freedom of South Lanarkshire at a rousing ceremony on June 17, 2023.”

Provost Cooper was born and brought up in Bothwell before moving to the Strathaven area. She was the Leader of the Independent Group of Councillors, which formed part of the partnership that led the council.

Provost Cooper also served as a board member for Kilbryde Hospice and the David Livingstone Trust. She previously chaired General Teaching Council Disciplinary Panels and was on Scottish Government Tribunals for young people with Additional Needs.

In previous council terms she was a member of the council’s Executive Committee, Community & Enterprise Committee, Finance and Corporate Resources Committee, Housing and Technical Resources Committee, and the East Kilbride Area Committee.

Provost Cooper was also instrumental in raising the funding to erect in 2021 a life-size bronze monument on the Common Green in Strathaven to Rifleman Khan, a German Shepherd who rescued his handler, Lance Corporal Jimmy Muldoon, from drowning during World War II.