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 |
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| 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]
Pennie grew up in Airdrie [6] [1] speaking Scots with her parents, grandparents and siblings. Her parents are teachers. She credits her grandparents and mother for teaching her Scots and inspiring in her 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]
Pennie has worked as a chef. [7]
Growing up, Pennie competed in Robert Burns poetry recital competitions.
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 local 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] A second collection, Poyums Annaw was announced in July 2025. [19]
Pennie was a judge for a BBC Radio Scotland youth writers competition on climate change. [20] [21] She wrote an article for TES about using Scots in the classroom. [22]
In September 2022, Pennie became a columnist for The Herald . [23]
Pennie's first book, Poyums, won the Discover Award at the 2025 British Book Awards. [24]
In March 2024, Pennie revealed she had been in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship. Her ex-partner pled guilty in court to domestic violence and was sentenced to a two-year behavioural programme and made subject to a three year non-harassment order. [25]