[3][2] Every year the family summer holiday was spent in cabins in Glenesk, where George taught his children about nature.

Helen developed a love of climbing and walking that stayed with her throughout her life, and she made many long trips to the Highlands.

Grieve was looking for contributions for a new anthology, Northern Numbers, to which Helen submitted poems, and their correspondence developed into a long-lasting friendship.

[3] Helen began to rent a studio flat in 1921 and liked being a part of the bohemian lifestyle, being so close to the bookshops, and the Pentland Hills were a source of enjoyment for her.

[3] Helen and her mother moved in to the semi-detached house, Dinnieduff, which became an unofficial meeting place for those involved with Scottish literature at that time.

With Helen being a founding member and Honorary Secretary, she would eventually take over Hugh's leading role in the PEN Club.

A summer job in the berry fields near Blairgowrie led to the publication of her first poem, "The Song of the Raspberry Picker", in 1917.

Encouraged by this success, she began to write more, experimenting with different forms of verse, but sending only a small proportion of her work to editors.

[3] Helen worked on a scheme to evacuate children abroad, and also volunteered for fire-watching duties at night, in addition to her own job and caring for her mother.

[1] Selections for Makars' Court are made by the Writers' Museum, the Saltire Society and the Scottish Poetry Library.