In Memory of Eileen Jackson
Home ] Up ] Photo Galleries ] Town Guides ] Notables ] Community ] News ] Places ] History ] Search ] Contact Us ]


EILEEN Jackson, who died in Ayr Hospital on Boxing Day, will be remembered by many of the writing fraternity in Ayrshire as a successful author, a sympathetic listener and a patient tutor. As past President of the Ayr Writers’ Club, long serving President of Strathclyde Writers and a passionate supporter of the Scottish Association of Writers, Eileen retired from active writing some years ago but leaves a legacy of over twenty novels.

Having written short stories for the confession market for many years, Eileen was in her late forties before she turned to novel writing and first had her talent recognised by being published in America.

It was towards the end of the 1970s, when she was taken up by the London literary agent Gerald Pollinger, that her career blossomed in the UK and then worldwide. Bringing up and caring for her family did not stop Eileen from finding the time to write each and every day – a routine she urged upon young writers whenever asked to speak or comment upon a writer’s life. She was a very versatile author, and wrote for a variety of markets - from dark Victorian mysteries to swashbuckling pirate adventures, and from Mills & Boon modern romances to tales of Regency elegance quivering with emotional turmoil.

Towards the end of her career, Eileen tackled the big book, the family saga, and produced six novels for Hodder Headline under the pen-name, Elizabeth Warne. Eileen always undertook in-depth research for all her books, to ensure historical and geographic accuracy. Her authentic handling of dialogue was also the result of careful research. A favourite setting for her family sagas was the early part of the 20th century and, for each new book, Eileen went to the people who could remember and describe life, love, good times and the problems that beset those who lived at that time.

Eileen settled in Scotland, with her husband John and her family, in 1977. For the past twenty years she lived with her husband in a Regency cottage near Straiton. She always said how lucky she was to live in such a wonderful spot in the world and talked of the kindness of those around her. Eileen will be missed by a host of friends and colleagues in Scotland and also in England where she spent a week each year at the Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick, enjoying the company of her favourite people, fellow writers. Eileen is survived by husband John, her three children Lesley, Deborah, and Alyce, and five grandchildren. Her funeral was held at Masonhill Crematorium, Ayr, on Thursday. 4th January

Tribute by John Jackson.

Eileen and her husband John were judges in Maybole's annual Jean Falconer Literary Competition and Maybole Community Council is very grateful for all that Eileen and John did to enhance the award ceremony.