decided to give up sex and take up committees." Linklater was elected chairman of the Orkney Heritage Society in 1976, and immediately got involved in a campaign to counter the duo threats of the nuclear sector's plan to mine uranium on Orkney's mainland and dumping nuclear waste off the island's west coast. She followed up by contesting plans to dump nuclear waste at sea, and later successfully convinced the oil industry to fund an qualified resident archaeologist who supervised Orkney's rich prehistoric heritage full-time. In 1976, Linklater and Peter Maxwell Davies among others co-founded the St Magnus Festival, and conceived, performed, and produced the Johnsmas Foy as the festival's primary literary event. In the 1970s, she joined the Scottish National Party (SNP), becoming the Orkney and Shetland's branch chairman and was the agent for Winnie Ewing, the MEP for the Highlands and Islands. At age 80, Linklater confronted a farmer who took sand from a beach, causing him to drive his digger towards her and verbally abused her. She said in response "Well, make up your mind. I can't be both." Linklater distributed pamphlets for the SNP, canvassing for the local candidate at the 1992 United Kingdom general election. She worked with Laura Grimond to restore the 8th-century St Boniface Kirk, was a founding trustee and chairperson of the Pier Arts Centre and was a founder member of the Orkney Folk Festival. Linklater also housed the local candidate for the Natural Law Party during the 1997 United Kingdom general election. Personal life She was a Christian, went to church, and was a Scottish nationalist. Linklater was married to the writer Eric Linklater from 1 June 1933 until his death on 7 November 1974. They had four children (two sons and two daughters): including the biographer and journalist Andro Linklater and the newspaper editor and arts administrator Magnus Linklater. She died of cancer and heart failure on the evening of 29 June 1997 at her home in Kirkwall, Orkney. Legacy In 2000, the Orkney Heritage Society established The Marjorie Linklater Writing Award in her memory. The award is presented to senior school pupils in the fifth or sixth year of education and to similarly aged students at Orkney College "for a short piece of creative writing" with judges including members of the Linklater family. References 1909 births 1997 deaths People from Edinburgh People educated at St George's School, Edinburgh People educated