I have been fascinated by this largely forgotten Scottish heroine for a few years now and am currently engaged in researching material for a play about her. Does anyone have any information about Jane Haining, other than what is printed below? If so I would very much like to hear from you. I can be contacted at johnnicollendeavour@yahoo.co.uk. Thank you.
Jane was born in the last years of the nineteenth century in a little village called Dunscore in the South West of Scotland. She was a more than able pupil at school, becoming Dux (top pupil of the year) at Dumfries Academy.
After a successful career in Commerce she went on to train to be a Missionary and secured a position as Matron of the Church OF Scotland Mission in Budapest.
She was home in Scotland on holiday when World War 2 broke out and, against the advice of family and friends and her bossses, she went back to Budapest to be with her children.
She was gassed in Auschwitz on the seventeenth of July 1944.
At one point Jane was made to sew The Star of David onto the clothes of the children in her care.
POEM FOR JANE HAINING
The stars fell out of the sky
and, if it had been possible,
you would have gathered them up,
one by one,
and stationed them again
in their rightful quarters.
And, as before,
their shining would have shamed
the darkness all around,
but, instead, they made you
sew them into all those
little coats and dresses,
forcing you to chain
all the bright and shimmering
to the dull clod
of a poisoned earth.
Then, at the dying breath
of that great evil,
just when hope -
fragile as a Spring flower -
broke ground,
you were sucked into the maw
and in your presence
the dark around you
was shamed into nothingness.
Poem by John R. Nicoll.
Monday, 17 October 2011
Friday, 14 October 2011
SHEENA WELLINGTON
A timely entry for a truly inspiring Scot woman, particularly since she is appearing in concert at St. Paul's Cathedral, Dundee at 1.pm. tommorrow, Saturday 15/10/11!! It should be a good way to spend your lunchtime in Dundee
Sheena was born in Dundee into a family of singers and factory weavers. She sings Burn's songs, ballads and the best of contemporary offerings.
She has been a keen supporter of folk music throughout her career and has helped get more funding for this important branch of the Arts.
She has Doctorates from the Universities of Dundee and St. Andrews and the The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
In November 2009 she was installed in the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.
The acoustics in St Paul's Cathedral are marvellous and it should be a marvellous concert in this beautiful Church. There is also a fine supporting act of fiddle music.
Tickets are £4 and £3concession available on the door.
Friday, 1 April 2011
MOTHER'S DAY POEM
All right, now I know all YOUR Mums are the best in the world, but this modest verse goes some way to explaining why I think mine is.
She is 91 now and she has served her country as a Wren Officer during World War 2. If you are reading this in the U.S. that means she was a female Royal Naval Officer.
At one point she was operating only 22 miles from Rommel's approaching army.
She was one of the generation who brought our National Health Service into being and, of course, funded it through her taxes and, as well as helping to bring up a family of three in a secure, happy and stable environment (of a sort that a lot of kids now can only dream of) she held down a series of important and worthwhile jobs.
When we got home from school we used to have our evening meal together during which she'd always talk to us like the intelligent human beings she knew us to be and tell us in great detail about the book she was currently reading. I KNOW that this was where I got my love of language and literature.
If I am spared I intend producing a fuller biography of this fine lady at a later date - also one of my father.
John Robertson Nicoll
Broughty Ferry,
Dundee
FOR MY MOTHER
The pebble on the beach
and the wave
are good metaphors,
I think.
For the wave alone
gives the pebble its form,
returning time and again
to spend everything on the stone
which, owing to its nature,
can never adequately give thanks
for each gift -
each act of forgivenness.
She is 91 now and she has served her country as a Wren Officer during World War 2. If you are reading this in the U.S. that means she was a female Royal Naval Officer.
At one point she was operating only 22 miles from Rommel's approaching army.
She was one of the generation who brought our National Health Service into being and, of course, funded it through her taxes and, as well as helping to bring up a family of three in a secure, happy and stable environment (of a sort that a lot of kids now can only dream of) she held down a series of important and worthwhile jobs.
When we got home from school we used to have our evening meal together during which she'd always talk to us like the intelligent human beings she knew us to be and tell us in great detail about the book she was currently reading. I KNOW that this was where I got my love of language and literature.
If I am spared I intend producing a fuller biography of this fine lady at a later date - also one of my father.
John Robertson Nicoll
Broughty Ferry,
Dundee
FOR MY MOTHER
The pebble on the beach
and the wave
are good metaphors,
I think.
For the wave alone
gives the pebble its form,
returning time and again
to spend everything on the stone
which, owing to its nature,
can never adequately give thanks
for each gift -
each act of forgivenness.
Friday, 25 March 2011
TRICIA McDOUGALL (FIFE)
A few weeks ago Tricia McDougall lost her battle with cancer after bravely hanging on to life long enough to see her daughter, Vicki, get married.
Tricia had fought the disease heroically for six years and had hoped that an alternative healing centre for cancer sufferers could be established in Fife.
To that end, she backed a charity started by Vicki and two of her (Tricia's) sisters.
You can make contributions via www.triciaswish.co.uk
Tricia had fought the disease heroically for six years and had hoped that an alternative healing centre for cancer sufferers could be established in Fife.
To that end, she backed a charity started by Vicki and two of her (Tricia's) sisters.
You can make contributions via www.triciaswish.co.uk
AN UNSUNG HEROINE OF CONTEMPORARY SCOTTISH LITERATURE
Agnes Owens was born in Milngavie, near Glasgow, in 1926.
She only published her first book at the age of 58 after having been championed by several prominent Scottish authors who discovered her talent through a Writer's Group that she attended.
Hers has not been an easy life. She has struggled to bring up a family on a low income, coped with a war traumatised, alcoholic husband and come to terms with the murder of her youngest son when he was only 19.
She says her stories are about building site workers, tramps and alcoholics. They are all very firmly set in that part of south west Scotland that she has known all her life.
"I couldn't have written about anything else and I didn't want to talk about wealthy people", she says.
Her work might, on the face of it, seem downbeat but her characters are beautifully observed and her stories bustle with energy - and even hope!
Her work includes: "Gemntlemen of the West", "A Working Mother", "For The Love Of Willie" - shortlisted for the 1998 Stakis Prize (Novels).
"Lean Tales", "Getting Sent For", "The Complete Short Stories, 2008" - contains new material (Short Stories).
Agnes Owens work is published by Polygon Books.
She only published her first book at the age of 58 after having been championed by several prominent Scottish authors who discovered her talent through a Writer's Group that she attended.
Hers has not been an easy life. She has struggled to bring up a family on a low income, coped with a war traumatised, alcoholic husband and come to terms with the murder of her youngest son when he was only 19.
She says her stories are about building site workers, tramps and alcoholics. They are all very firmly set in that part of south west Scotland that she has known all her life.
"I couldn't have written about anything else and I didn't want to talk about wealthy people", she says.
Her work might, on the face of it, seem downbeat but her characters are beautifully observed and her stories bustle with energy - and even hope!
Her work includes: "Gemntlemen of the West", "A Working Mother", "For The Love Of Willie" - shortlisted for the 1998 Stakis Prize (Novels).
"Lean Tales", "Getting Sent For", "The Complete Short Stories, 2008" - contains new material (Short Stories).
Agnes Owens work is published by Polygon Books.
Friday, 11 March 2011
BRIEF LIVES 1.: CHRISTINA ROBERTSON (Scots Woman Painter)
Born in Kinghorn, Fife, Christina seems to have been encouraged in her love of painting portraits and miniatures by her uncle who was a coach painter by trade.
She quickly made a name for herself by painting portraits of the London nobility and in 1837 she gained several fashionable clients while working in Paris and this led to commissions from the Russian Tsar.
She travelled to Russia in 1839-40 and stayed in the Peterhof Palace in Saint Petersburg and in 1841 she was made an honorary member of the Imperial Russian Academy.
Christina Robertson, one of Scotland's great, but little known, artistic talents was buried in Volkov Cemetery.
The work shown is a portrait of Alexandra Fyodorovna. It is clear that Robertson's work can be compared to Thomas Gainsborough's or Joshua Reynold's
She quickly made a name for herself by painting portraits of the London nobility and in 1837 she gained several fashionable clients while working in Paris and this led to commissions from the Russian Tsar.
She travelled to Russia in 1839-40 and stayed in the Peterhof Palace in Saint Petersburg and in 1841 she was made an honorary member of the Imperial Russian Academy.
Christina Robertson, one of Scotland's great, but little known, artistic talents was buried in Volkov Cemetery.
The work shown is a portrait of Alexandra Fyodorovna. It is clear that Robertson's work can be compared to Thomas Gainsborough's or Joshua Reynold's
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
VOLUNTEER WORK AND RUNNING A CHARITY
WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY? THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION MIGHT JUST HELP!
www.volunteerscotland.org.uk
This is a good "gateway" to volunteering in Scotland - and also for improving your skills/cv!
www.mossburn.org Very satisfying!
0800 028 2793
Animal and bird rescue work in Edinburgh
www.acvo.org.uk
Information on voluntary work in the Aberdeen area.
www.cvsnorthlanarkshire.co.uk
Info. on voluntary work in North Lanarkshire
IF YOU ARE AN ORGANISATION WHICH NEEDS VOLUNTEER HELP OF ANY KIND PLEASE CONTACT US ON johnnicollendeavour@yahoo.co.uk
www.volunteerscotland.org.uk
This is a good "gateway" to volunteering in Scotland - and also for improving your skills/cv!
www.mossburn.org Very satisfying!
0800 028 2793
Animal and bird rescue work in Edinburgh
www.acvo.org.uk
Information on voluntary work in the Aberdeen area.
www.cvsnorthlanarkshire.co.uk
Info. on voluntary work in North Lanarkshire
IF YOU ARE AN ORGANISATION WHICH NEEDS VOLUNTEER HELP OF ANY KIND PLEASE CONTACT US ON johnnicollendeavour@yahoo.co.uk
WELCOME
Welcome to "Inspiring Scots Women". We hope that you will find it entertaining, informative and, of course, Inspiring.
Dip into it as often as you can to get the most out of it. You never know when you might find some item on careers, health or financial matters that will make a positive difference to your life.
Be inspired by the mini biographies of Scots women who achieved marvellous things. These were not overpaid, over hyped celebrities. They were wonderful women who made a real difference to people's lives - Jordan take note.
We will also be inviting you to nominate your own local heroine - one of those unsung heros who gives of herself with no thought of reward or publicity. For more details contact johnnicollendeavour@yahoo.co.uk
REMEMBER TO SCROLL BACK TO PREVIOUS POSTINGS IN CASE YOU'VE MISSED SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE!
Dip into it as often as you can to get the most out of it. You never know when you might find some item on careers, health or financial matters that will make a positive difference to your life.
Be inspired by the mini biographies of Scots women who achieved marvellous things. These were not overpaid, over hyped celebrities. They were wonderful women who made a real difference to people's lives - Jordan take note.
We will also be inviting you to nominate your own local heroine - one of those unsung heros who gives of herself with no thought of reward or publicity. For more details contact johnnicollendeavour@yahoo.co.uk
REMEMBER TO SCROLL BACK TO PREVIOUS POSTINGS IN CASE YOU'VE MISSED SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE!
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