The way Sir Chris Hoy revealed his cancer diagnosis was terminal is typical of one of Scotland’s greatest ever sportsmen.
The cycling legend announced he has between two and fours year to live and has known about it for some time.
But despite such a heartbreaking message, he told his many fans and admirers he was “feeling fit, strong and positive”.
His words exemplified the courage he showed in velodromes and cycling tracks around the world. He gave his all in a glittering career that saw him win six Olympic gold medals.
He was honoured to carry the flag for the UK at London 2012. Who could forget him on the podium shedding a tear at those same games following another medal success as the national anthem played?
Watching his career unfold was a joy and a source of great pride across the UK, but especially here in Scotland.
For us proud Scots, nothing in sport compares to seeing one of our own doing well on the international stage and few did as well as Chris.
The spirit and drive he displayed in cycling was still there after he retired.
He has pursued his love of motorsport and wrote two children’s books among his other endeavours.
Life can too often be unbearably cruel. Chris’s wife Sarra is suffering from an aggressive form of MS and the couple have two young children.
To look at life so positively under awful circumstances, takes something very special indeed.
On or off the track, Chris has been a credit to the nation.
Give us back our rights
A bill that aims to transform UK workers’ rights is being debated in the House of Commons today.
When it becomes law, it will mean the end of exploitative zero-hour contracts, it will ban fire and rehire and will reform parental leave and sick pay.
These welcome measures proposed by a Labour Government will make a difference to work security for so many across the country.
Far too many are currently in insecure employment and have poor conditions.
It is estimated that seven million workers will have improved rights from day one of the new law.
Trade unions have urged MPs to back the Bill and make sure they are on the “right side of history”.
Under the Tories, work security was eroded and hard fought-for conditions were undermined.
It is right that a UK Government should push to improve the lot of ordinary workers.
It is long overdue.
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