Robert McLellan was born in 1907 at Linmill Farm in the Clyde Valley. Educated at Bearsden Academy, Glasgow, he went on to study philosophy at the University of Glasgow. He finally settled on Arran until his death in 1985. His most famous play, Jamie the Saxt, was first performed in 1937. In addition to stage plays, McLellan also wrote five radio plays, The Linmill Stories and two poetic works, of which Sweet Largie Bay which was awarded The Scottish Arts Council's Poetry Prize in 1956. He was Honorary Vice President of the Lallans Society and Honorary Vice President of the Scottish Society of Playwrights. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1978.