Poignant memorial will remember tragic road accident victim

Coupar angus: Monkey puzzle tree will be in memory of Harlow Edwards

A memorial to a beloved Perthshire toddler who died in a road crash has been unveiled by her parents.

Harlow Edwards was knocked down and killed by a speeding driver just yards from her Coupar Angus home.

Now a lasting tribute to the two-yearold has been created at the children’s play park close to where she died.

Parents Steve and Sara attended a dedication ceremony for the new Larghan Park monkey puzzle tree. The couple also wrote a poem, inscribed on a plaque at the base of the tree.

It reads: “We twinkle in the sky, many years away. Most are only seen at night, however one is seen in the day.”

The tree is dedicated “in loving memory of a very special star, Harlow Edwards”.

The memorial was the idea of local man John Kettles, of Blast Design, who organises the town’s annual fireworks display.

He worked with the Edwards family and Perth and Kinross Council to find the right tree and location.

Community council chairwoman Wendy Mccombes, who led the ceremony, said it was felt a monkey puzzle tree would bring joy to future generations of youngsters.

“No one will forget the events of October 13 2016 and the fortitude and dignity shown by the Edwards family from that date,” she said.

“John suggested buying a tree and having it planted in the park to commemorate Harlow.

“It took a little time to find the right tree, get it and have it planted,” she said.

“In my experience children are fascinated by monkey puzzle trees,” she said.

“Children wonder: Where are the leaves? Where are the flowers? Will there be any apples? But most of all where are all the monkeys?”

Harlow’s older sister Dionne and a sixyear-old boy were also badly injured in the crash.

In October, driver Luke Pirie was jailed for six years after he admitted driving dangerously along Forfar Road, mounting a pavement and striking Harlow.

Prosecutors said the 23-year-old was travelling at 50mph through the 30mph zone when he attempted to overtake a line of cars.

The Edwards family, who launched a charity in Harlow’s memory, have been at the forefront of a campaign to increase road safety along the A94 stretch.

Perth and Kinross Council agreed to a series of improvements on the road after talks with the family and local safety campaigners.

Speaking outside Glasgow High Court Sara said: “We can only hope now that our baby girl’s beautiful face will serve as a reminder of the responsibility that comes when getting behind the wheel of a car and also the dangers of speeding and distractions to drivers.

“As a family going forward, we want to concentrate on honouring the absolute love and never-ending joy our darling baby girl brought into our lives through the charity Harlow’s Helping Hand.”

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No one will forget the events of October 13 2016andthe fortitude and dignity shown by the Edwards family from that date

The dedication of a tree in memory of toddler Harlow Edwards, at Larghan Park, Coupar Angus. Top, from left: Sara and Steve Edwards (Harlow’s parents) with John Kettles and Wendy Mccombes. Above: Harlow Edwards. Picture top: John Palfreyman.