Remembering pioneering 'First Lady of COPFS' who blazed trail for equal opportunities

Helen Ross, who died on 19 September aged 97, was a true pioneer.

She was the first woman to be appointed as a Procurator Fiscal Depute in Scotland and blazed a trail for equal opportunities in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and beyond. Her life is one to be celebrated.
 
Helen grew up in the fishing village of Buckie on the Moray Firth, beginning her schooling writing not on paper but on slates. In 1945 at the end of the Second World War and at the age of just 17, she left home to study law at Aberdeen University.

She was the only woman in her year. Alongside her degree, she completed an apprenticeship with the Aberdeen firm of Edmonds and Ledingham, as was the practice then.

Marriage and a move to Glasgow followed, and, as was expected of women then, she set aside her legal career to raise a family. Fifteen years and five children later her thoughts turned once again to the law.

In 1965, Helen joined the Glasgow firm Roslyn Mitchell practising property law. Her ambition, however, was to practice criminal law. In 1967 she approached the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in Glasgow, only to be told that prosecution work was “no place for a lassie” and that the defence agents would “have her for breakfast.”

Equal opportunities, as Helen often remarked, were not much in evidence then.

Undeterred, she applied to the COPFS Dumbarton Office. The Procurator Fiscal there was also reluctant to hire a woman, especially one with 5 children and no criminal experience. He grudgingly however agreed to hire her on a month’s trial and with an endorsement that ran no stronger than “anyone was better than no one".

And so began Helen’s groundbreaking COPFS career as its first female Procurator Fiscal Depute.

Defence lawyers who may have initially thought a female prosecutor would be a pushover were swiftly corrected. As Helen herself put it, “rather than having me for breakfast, they found me rather indigestible.”

Her determination, intelligence, sharp wit and resilience soon earned respect and, with some affection, the nickname 'Atilla the Hen'.

Helen served five years in the Dumbarton Office before transferring to the Aberdeen Office, where in 1979 she became the first woman to be appointed Assistant Procurator Fiscal.

Over her career she contributed to the Stewart Committee and played a pivotal role in the Piper Alpha Public Inquiry.

She retired in 1990 after 23 years of distinguished service.

Helen lived life to the full with determination, kindness, resilience and courage. She leaves a lasting legacy and will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

Obituary contributed by Helen's family.