It is 51 year the day fae the deith o Helen Burness Cruickshank, on 2 Mairch 1975. She wis born in Montrose in 1886 an syne spent time wirkin in baith Lunnon an Embra. While in Lunnon, she stertit takkin an intress in weemen’s richts, gaed on mairches, an cawed for the vote. Hooanever, aince in Embra, efter 1912, Helen stertit tae write poyems in baith Scots an Soothron, an becam a namely feegur in the rebirth o Scots screivings in the 1920’s. Her first gaithery o poyems tae be set furth wis Up the Noran Water, in 1934, an she maistly wrate in the Scots o Angus or Farfarshire as it is ithergaits kent. Her hame for fifty year in Embra, cryed Dinnieduff, wis ane o a nummer o hooses whaur kenspeckle Scots screivars, sic as MacDiarmid an Grassic Gibbon, used tae gaither, crack, an mak. Helen brocht oot twa-three mair gaitheries o poyems doun tae the 1970’s an her self-wrutten life story, cryed Octobiography, wis set furth in 1987 efter her deith. Tae this day, she bides ane o the namely weemen screivars in Scots o the 20t century.

The’r a soond file o this story in Scots abuin.

Photie: Plaque tae Helen Burness Cruickshank, photie taen bi Erisagal.