About Eileen Baxendale

Eileen comes from Stockton-on-Tees in the heart of the industrial North East of England; her father worked in the local chemical works and she grew up with an appreciation of the vital role industries like this play in the life and economy of an area. Testing the wind before hanging out the washing was a part of everyday life.

Eileen went on from a local school to London University and then to Columbia University New York, studying philosophy and economics and then specialising in philosophy and logic. "Studying logic does help you to think clearly; a useful skill in politics" she says.

Keith and Eileen recently celebrated their ruby wedding, with a buffet consisting mainly of red food, and have brought up five children who all consider themselves Scottish. "We've lived in Glasgow for 34 years now and love it here. Perhaps having lived more than half our lives here we can now be considered Scottish?"

Eileen had a sucessful career in social work in Glasgow, specialising in child care and then managing the whole range of social work services in Easterhouse for seven years. "Managing services as diverse as drug and alcohol projects, home helps, child care centres and community work was fascinating, as well as very hard work".

Eileen left social work just as the first group of asylum seekers arrived in Castlemilk and immediately volunteered to help at the Castlemilk Churches Together Refugee Centre, later becoming one of the group running this very well regarded project. The Centre closed when the Mitchellhill high flats were to be demolished but Eileen and Keith are still involved day to day in working with asylum seekers and refugees.

Eileen became a Liberal Democrat Councillor on South Lanarkshire Council in May 2007. She is "on lots of Committees and Panels"; she is also vice chair of the Social Work Committee and Chair of the local Integrated Childrens' Services steering group. Some key achievements as a Councillor include working with local parents to get a unit for autistic children set up in a local prmary school and helping the local Fair Trade Steering group progress towards being able to claim Fair Trade status for Rutherglen.

Eileen stood in the Glasgow North East Parliamentary by-election in 2009 and in the General Election again in Glasgow Springburn in 2010, increasing the LibDem vote considerably. "I'm really looking forward to standing for the Scottish Parliament and campaiging again, but nearer home. I think I got to know every cafe in the Springburn area."

Eieen is a committed christian and an active member of her local Baptist Church, Castlemilk Community Church, where she has been a Sunday School teacher "for ever"; actually for over 30 years. "Sometimes ex-pupils bring their children along; which is really nice."

Eileen and Keith enjoy walking, hill climbing (slowly) and time with their grand children. They always have several rescue cats in the house.