Len Pennie

Scots language and mental health advocate

Len Pennie

Born| 1999
Lanarkshire[1]
Occupation| Poet, Scots language performer
Language| Scots
Nationality| Scottish
Education| University of St Andrews
Literary movement| Scots Language
Notable works|

* I'm no havin children
* Poyums

Notable awards| Scots Language performer of the year 2021, St Andrews Society of Los Angeles' 2020 Poet Laureate, Scots Book of the Year 2024
Website
Twitter feed

Len Pennie is a poet, Scots language performer and writer, and mental-health advocate.[2] She became known on social media in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland for her "Scots word of the day" and poem (Scots: poyum) videos.[3] [4][5]

## Early life and education

[edit]

Pennie grew up in Airdrie and Dublane [6][1] in a middle-class household speaking Scots with her parents, grandparents and siblings. Her mother and father are teachers. She credits her grandparents and mother for teaching her Scots, and inspiring a love of languages.[6] She also speaks Spanish and French.

Pennie has a Master of Arts in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of St Andrews.[7]

## Career and writing

[edit]

Pennie has worked as a restaurant cook.[7]

### Poetry

[edit]

Growing up, Pennie competed in classroom Robert Burns poetry recital competitions.[6].

When she was furloughed from her work in a restaurant during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Scotland, she began posting a video with a Scots word each day on Twitter[6] to show the pronunciation and meaning of the word and how to use it in context.[5]

Her poems include I'm no havin children, contrasting the English "children" with the Scots "weans",[3] which went viral in October 2020.[6] Following the online popularity of her posts, she says she received online abuse, including misogyny[4] and disagreement as to the status of Scots as a language,[6] and critics including George Galloway suggested Pennie has a "faux identity" and is a supporter of Scottish nationalism; however, Pennie also received support from actor Michael Sheen,[8] comedian and nationalist campaigner Janey Godley,[9] author Neil Gaiman,[4][10] writer Billy Kay,[6] food writer Nigella Lawson, TV presenter Greg Jenner[5] and independence supporter and playwright David Greig.[11]

Pennie was one of five Scots commissioned to write a poem for a Christmas campaign by Lidl about the Daft Days.[12] A recitation of Robert Burns' Rantin’ Rovin’ Robin was shared by the Scottish Poetry Library,[13] and she performed to over 1,200 people for the University of St Andrews' online Global Burns Night[14] and at a National Trust for Scotland's Big Burns Night in January 2021.[15] In February 2021, Pennie was commissioned by a campaign group Witches of Scotland to write and perform a poem for their online video In Memorial, to honour those, mainly women, who were persecuted under the Witchcraft Acts.[16] In November 2020, the Saint Andrew's Society of Los Angeles invited her to write a Scottish diaspora poem which resulted in "Scots Nothin Tae Dae Wae That", and in March 2021 they named her their society's Poet Laureate.[17]

In March 2023, Canongate Books announced publication of a short collection of her poetry, Poyums.[18]

### Other writing

[edit]

Pennie was a judge for a BBC Radio Scotland youth writers competition on climate change.[19][20] She wrote an article for TES about using Scots in the classroom.[21]

In September 2022, Pennie became a columnist for The Herald.[22]

## Personal life

[edit]

In March 2024, Pennie revealed she was in an abusive relationship with Gregor Monson between 2017 and 2020. He began harassing Pennie after she left him. He was charged, with a trial set for April 2022, but it was adjourned. In 2024, Monson pled guilty to domestic violence and was sentenced to a two year behavioural programme for domestic abusers. Pennie was granted a 3 year non-harassment order. [23]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b McMillan, Joyce (6 May 2021). "The Scotsman Sessions #232: Len Pennie". The Scotsman.
2. ^ Fotheringham, Ann (28 April 2021). "Talented trio to light up Scotswoman of the Year as event goes digital for first time". Glasgow Times.
3. ^ a b Florent, Hugo (25 January 2021). "La personne à suivre. Len Pennie, la poétesse qui défend la langue écossaise". Courrier International.
4. ^ a b c Mackie, Rachel (8 January 2021). "'You think your attacks don't hurt me, but they do' Scottish poet speaks out about being the victim of relentless online abuse". The Scotsman.
5. ^ a b c Hay, Katharine (10 February 2021). "You're Dead To Me host Greg Jenner and Nigella Lawson big fans of Scots poet". The Scotsman.
6. ^ a b c d e f g Hay, Katharine (24 October 2020). "'They went absolutely mad for it' – Scottish poet overwhelmed by online response to her latest Scots poem". The Scotsman.
7. ^ a b "Len Pennie – Internet poet and Twitter sensation, talks to TRE's Giles Brown". Talk Radio Europe. 23 December 2020.
8. ^ Allen-Mills, Tony (17 January 2021). "Scots poet Pennie is in heaven after actor Michael Sheen voices his support". Sunday Times.
9. ^ Ferguson, Brian (12 January 2021). "Janey Godley records video message of support for Scots language campaigners abused on social media". The Scotsman.
10. ^ Mackie, Rachel (30 December 2020). "Author Neil Gaiman joins support of Scottish warrior poet after she receives torrent of internet abuse". The Scotsman.
11. ^ Hay, Katharine (18 December 2020). "'It's embarrassing to witness' – Top Scottish playwright condemns trolls for 'misogynistic' comments towards Scots poet". The Scotsman.
12. ^ Erskine, Rosalind (2 December 2020). "Fife poet part of Lidl's 'daft days of Christmas' campaign". Fife Today.
13. ^ "Burns Week". Scottish Poetry Library. 28 January 2021.
14. ^ Brooks, Libby (24 January 2021). "Burns Night goes virtual: 'It might be even bigger this year'". The Guardian.
15. ^ "Edith Bowman to host Burns Big Night In from Bard's cottage". Press Association. 11 January 2021 - via The Gazette.
16. ^ Ferguson, Brian (7 February 2021). "Watch: Scottish 'warrior poet' pays tribute to thousands of women persecuted for witchcraft as campaign steps up". The Scotsman.
17. ^ Jackson, Lorne (21 March 2021). "So is this the top Jock in Hollywood?". The Herald.
18. ^ Kemp-Habib, Alice (22 March 2023). "Canongate lands début collection from TikTok poet Pennie". The Bookseller. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
19. ^ Gilmour, Lauren (16 April 2021). "New BBC competition on climate for young writers". Glasgow Times.
20. ^ "Meet the judges". Climate Tales. BBC Radio Scotland.
21. ^ Pennie, Len (30 October 2020). "4 top tips for using Scots language in the classroom". Tes. Tes Global Ltd. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
22. ^ "Introducing our new Herald columnist Lennie Pennie". The Herald. 16 September 2022.
23. ^ "Poet Len Pennie reveals domestic abuse ordeal". 1 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Miss PunnyPennie on Twitter
* Latto, Ryan (25 January 2021). "Talking Scots (Burns Night Special 2021)". Unearthed Podcast.