Agnes Owens Centenary

Saturday May 23 2026 was, at Alexandria Library, a day of celebration to honour the memory of local writer, Agnes Owens.

Agnes was born on May 24 1926 and died in October 2014, leaving behind an important literary legacy, portraying the reality of working class life.

Writing from her own ʻlived experienceʼ she wrote without sentimentality; with grit and a searing dark humour, about those living on the edge of society.

Her great skill was to speak to us from inside the minds of her characters – ʻpeople like thatʼ – and to portray their vulnerabilities with dignity and compassion.

Agnes attended an evening class in creative writing in the Vale, and went on to write her first novel, ʻGentlemen of the Westʼ published in 1984, when she was 58.

A working mother, who raised seven children, she went on to write a further five novellas and three short story collections.

This 100th birthday celebration, complete with tea, coffee and birthday cake, was a big success.

Visitors to the library, including members of Agnes' family and people who had known her, were able to chat together and share memories.

On a community memory map, Claire, who had known Agnes as one of the founding members of Balloch Library Reading Group, commented: “the group just wasn't the same without her. She is much missed.”

In the Vale of Leven Heritage room there was a specially curated display – photos of Agnes and typewritten pages of her work.

From Daydreams independent bookshop there was a colourful display of newly published paperbacks of Agnes's stories with cover images from the work of the late Joan Eardley who, like Agnes, portrayed the lives of working-class people.

A lovely sunny Saturday in Alexandria, in the convivial company of other booklovers; plenty books and birthday cake.

It was indeed a lovely way to honour the memory of a local writer – one of our own.