Anna Baird, who contributed articles to the magazine was more importantly a friend to us all at Scotland4me.  Anna died as a result of Cancer on 13th September 2009 at the young age of fifty-six. Here is the full tribute given by Anna's husband Gordon at her Funeral.

"She was loving, kind, considerate, compassionate and caring.  In fact any adjective that describes something good could be applied to Anna. She was born in 1953 in Dundee.  Her late mother, Flora, an Italian with a Scottish name, had travelled to Scotland from southern Italy to find work in the Jute industry in that city.  Her father Joseph had arrived from Poland after the war and also found employment in that same industry.

Anna lived with her parents and her sister, Patricia in Dundee and attended St Patrick's Primary School.  She was an extremely able child who did well at her studies and went on to Lawside Academy Catholic Secondary School.  Her headmaster wanted her to go on to University but her mind was already fixed on a career in Journalism.  To that end she attended college in Aberdeen where she was an outstanding student despite having little money.  Throughout the whole of her education she made many friends and it is great testimony to her that many of those people remained good friends and some are here today. Anna had a huge circle of friends which she kept in contact with all her life. She was a loyal and true friend.

After leaving college Anna began work on the Glenrothes Gazette around 1972. An independent young lady she impressed her employers with her hard work and writing talent.  She passed her driving test and bought a little Volkswagen Beetle which she called Victor. In 1973 I came into Anna's life.  I can't recall what I, as a penniless student, saw in this stunning young professional woman with her own car!  However, I do recall that I seemed to push Victor just as much as I travelled in that car.

In 1974, Anna moved to Perth to work on a bigger newspaper "the Perthshire Advertiser".  She wanted to widen the scope of her journalistic experience. She covered the Courts as well as many of the local sports.   I remember a particular occasion when she covered a football match involving St Johnstone and Hearts.  It is testament to her journalistic skills that her report made the national papers as well as the local - this despite not knowing which team was which for the entire first half.

Anna and I married in 1976 in St Vincent's Catholic Church in Dundee.  I remember that when she arrived at the altar (fashionably late as she was throughout her life) my breath was taken away by how beautiful she was.  So much so that the photographer hardly took any photographs of me.  To this day we do not have our wedding photograph in our house because we can't find one with me in it.

Anna moved to work in Dalkeith as a sub editor on the East Lothian News and associated titles.  In 1979 BBC Radio Scotland asked her to do some work for them.  I used to joke that she had just the face for radio but in actual fact she had matured into a stunningly beautiful woman.  Her career in radio was cut short when she fell pregnant in 1979 and decided that family came first. I've often wondered whether Anna would have become a TV news presenter in the Jackie Bird mould had she not decided that family came first.  The BBC had certainly identified her as being a talented journalist with the ideal personality to present the news. (Not to mention the sexiest voice).

We had moved to live in Tranent in 1979 and in 1980 our oldest daughter Alexis was born. Sara was born in 1983 and in 1987 Courtnay came along. Anna was never happier than with her family.  She was immensely proud of our daughters and the fact that they are such fine young woman, in her image, is a fitting tribute to her.

Anna continued to work on a part time basis as the children grew.  She moved on from the East Lothian News to work as the Editor of a Business Magazine and then in PR and media relations. In 2007 she decided to return to her first love and became a freelance journalist.  Unfortunately, her illness struck within days.  Although she had a period of remission in 2008 during which she returned to work, she has spent the best part of the last three years fighting her illness. Anna never complained about her illness but I know she suffered. She was dignified, and brave and courageous in her determination to get better.  Right up until her final days she was planning the future and still determined to help others.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped Anna and supported the family. My thanks go to my three daughters who did everything possible to support their mother.  They each contributed in their own individual way. Without my daughters I would never have coped with the ordeal. My thanks also go to the extended family for their support.

My gratitude goes to the doctors and nurses in the Western General Hospital. In particular Mr Chetty and Dr Hayward.  The nurses in Ward 1 who provided much of the treatment and the doctors and staff at Tranent Health Centre including the District Nurses. I also want to make special mention of the Maggie's Centre who provided so much practical help.  The Macmillan and Marie Curie nurses also made it possible for us to keep Anna at home for as long as possible. When we could no longer provide Anna with the care she deserved she was moved to St Columbas's Hospice which is the most wonderful place. They cared for Anna and the family in a way I had never thought possible and today's retiring collection is for them. Without St Columba's I simply do not know what we would have done.

Finally, there is one group of people who I want to single out for praise - Anna's friends. They all played a part but in particular I want to publicly thank Sandra, Shirley, Stella, Kath, Jane, Anne, Helen, Maureen, Kate, Linda and Jerry. We will never forget what you did for Anna.

Anna was a wonderful lady who left us all too quickly. She is not only irreplaceable for me and my family but she is also a great loss to the community. I know from what people have said to me that everyone here today has been touched by Anna in some way and is the better for knowing her. Anna was loved.

Thank you to everyone for coming and please remember Anna and our family in your prayers."

(Article by Charles Litster)