Jessie Kesson
Encyclopedia
Jessie Kesson born as Jessie Grant McDonald, was a Scottish
novelist, playwright and radio producer.
in Inverness
and brought up in Elgin
and then in an orphanage at Skene, Aberdeenshire from the age of 8. In her circumstances, she was not permitted to enter further education and had to go into domestic service.
In 1934 she married Johnnie Kesson, a cattleman, living in Abriachan
and then Rothienorman
.
Encounters with Nan Shepherd
and then Neil M. Gunn
opened opportunities in writing, including plays for the BBC in Aberdeen.
She moved to London in 1947, where she lived for the rest of her life. As well as domestic work, she worked as a radio producer, producing Woman's Hour
and over 90 radio plays.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
novelist, playwright and radio producer.
Life
She was born in a workhouseWorkhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
in Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
and brought up in Elgin
Elgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
and then in an orphanage at Skene, Aberdeenshire from the age of 8. In her circumstances, she was not permitted to enter further education and had to go into domestic service.
In 1934 she married Johnnie Kesson, a cattleman, living in Abriachan
Abriachan
Abriachan , pronounced with the stress on the i , is a village in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is situated high above the western shore of Loch Ness, 15 km to the south-west of the city of Inverness. The village has a population of approximately 120...
and then Rothienorman
Rothienorman
Rothienorman is a village in north east Scotland.The local economy is based primarily on farming, whilst services are provided by a mobile Post Office van, village shop, the Rothie Inn hotel and barber. A recent addition to the community was the high-performance automobile vendor Indy Car Sales,...
.
Encounters with Nan Shepherd
Nan Shepherd
Nan Shepherd was a Scottish novelist and poet.-Life:She attended Aberdeen High School for Girls and graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 1915, subsequently lecturing for the Aberdeen College of Education.After she retired in 1956 she edited the Aberdeen University review...
and then Neil M. Gunn
Neil M. Gunn
Neil Miller Gunn was a prolific novelist, critic, and dramatist who emerged as one of the leading lights of the Scottish Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s...
opened opportunities in writing, including plays for the BBC in Aberdeen.
She moved to London in 1947, where she lived for the rest of her life. As well as domestic work, she worked as a radio producer, producing Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour
Woman's Hour is a radio magazine programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom.-History:Created by Norman Collins and originally presented by Alan Ivimey the programme was first broadcast on 7 October 1946 on the BBC's Light Programme . It was transferred to its current home in 1973...
and over 90 radio plays.