Education

Anne Lorne Gillies is a trained and experienced teacher, qualified to teach at nursery, primary and secondary school levels. She has an MA from Edinburgh University, a Post-graduate Certificate in Education (Secondary) from the University of London; an LRAM (Singing Teaching) from London’s Royal Academy of Music; an Additional Teaching Qualification (Primary) from the University of Strathclyde; and a PhD from the University of Glasgow. In 1993 the University of Edinburgh awarded her with an Honorary Doctorate (Dr Honoris Causa)

Throughout the 1980s she taught Gaelic singing to adult classes at the University of Stirling Heritage of Scotland Summer Schools.

In 1982 she became Patron of the Gaelic Playgroup Association (Comhairle nan Sgoiltean Araich). In 1988 she became full-time National Education Officer of the Scottish Gaelic language development agency, Comann na Gàidhlig. Her work included supporting parents in their demand for Gaelic-medium education for their children; also convening the Inter-Authority Standing Group on Gaelic (IASG) – which brought together high-level Officers and Members of Regional Authorities throughout Scotland to determine and coordinate polciy for the language.