Tributes paid 25 years after gun massacre
THE 25th anniversary of the Dunblane tragedy - in which a Hyndburn teacher was murdered along with 16 children - was commemorated this week.
The 17 deaths after gunman Thomas Hamilton opened fire on March 13, 1996 included teacher Gwen Mayor, originally from Great Harwood.
The atrocity shocked the nation and led to the UK enforcing some of the strictest firearms legislation in the world.
Gwen Mayor was among three teachers to receive the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery for her actions in desperately trying to protect her children.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Prime Minister Boris Johnson were among those paying their respects on Saturday.
In a tribute on Twitter, Mr Johnson wrote: “We must never forget all those who lost their lives on that terrible day. Today my thoughts are with the bereaved, the survivors, and the whole Dunblane community.”
The Gwen Mayor Memorial Trust was established in March 1996 and the Gwen Mayor rose created as a tribute to Gwen and her pupils.
Each rose sold raises £1.50 for the trust and all primary schools in Scotland are eligible for Gwen Mayor Trust Funding. The purpose of the Trust is ‘to advance education by providing financial support for projects in connection with the arts, culture, music or sport submitted to the Trustees by primary schools or departments in Scotland’.
Since the Gwen Mayor Trust was established, more than 300 projects have been supported, with more than £100,000 of grants.