Biography
Resourceful and multi-talented, Eileen is a driven campaigner, people person. She is the Patron of the U.K charity Headway’s South Lanarkshire’s branch. As well as having attained a diploma in Literature and Creative writing; she is also a trained photographer.
In a diverse and often painful life, Eileen has addressed a cross-party committee of the Scottish Parliament investigating the extent of child sexual abuse in Scotland; championing the rights of survivors/victims – even if it means chaining herself to Parliament’s railings!
Adopted at birth, Eileen was taken into care after the death of her alcoholic mother. After coming to terms with the abuse she also suffered, she discovered something much worse: that her son born profoundly deaf (because the care system failed to ensure she was inoculated against rubella) He had also been abused, at school and again later in care.
Eileen is a total survivor against willful neglect, impunitive behaviour and life itself. She lost her business but won a legal battle which resulted in her lawyer being found guilty of professional misconduct. This against a backdrop of contracting chicken pox from which the complications from she almost died. She was left with a legacy of viral encephalitis. To date, due to this legacy, not only is she involved with Headway South Lanarkshire and on th expert patient panel, shi is now the Patron, She is also a member of the Encephalitis Society. However and more importantly she exemplifies sheer determination and the will of the human spirit. She does this, with a voice that encapsulates both the beauty and cruelty of the poet with the essence of a Glasgow girl.