Teacher killed cycling to work

TRAGEDY: Adam Pattinson, 36, well known in rugby circles

A popular teacher was knocked down and killed as he cycled to work.

Adam Pattinson died in a collision with a car on the A912 Bridge of Earn to Aberargie road.

The tragedy happened at around 6.30am yesterday. The rural stretch was closed off for several hours, while a major police investigation got under way.

Mr Pattinson, 36, was a games teacher at Craigclowan Preparatory School and was also captain of Perthshire Rugby club.

The club’s chief executive, Allan Brown, led tributes. “We shall miss him greatly,” he said.

Others flooded social media with messages of condolence.

Police Scotland has appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

Tributes have been paid to a teacher and rugby player who died in a horrific road crash on the Perthshire/ Fife border as he cycled to work.

Adam Pattinson, pictured rightheld aloft by team-mates, was struck by an oncoming car on the A912 Bridge of Earn to Aberargie road yesterday.

Emergency services were scrambled to the scene, known as the Baiglie Straight, just after 6.30am.

The road was shut for several hours while collision investigators tried to establish the circumstances of the accident.

Mr Pattinson was a games teacher at Craigclowan Preparatory School and captain of Perthshire Rugby.

The club’s chief executive, Allan Brown, led tributes to 36-year-old.

“We are totally devastated,” he said. “The thoughts and prayers of all members of our club are with Adam’s wife Claire, his son Fraser and Adam’s family.”

Mr Brown said: “For many, many years Adam has been at the centre of our Perthshire Rugby family as a player, captain and club captain. We shall miss him greatly.”

Adam was a former pupil of Craigclowan and graduated in Sports Studies at Stirling University, before completing his Professional Graduate Diploma in Education at Dundee.

He worked at a Perth primary school before he returned to Craigclowan to teach Form Four.

Friends posted messages of condolence on social media.

One wrote “a big man with an even bigger heart” while another described Adam as a “true gentleman”.

Jamie Webb posted: “Rest in peace big man. True legend to the shire and hands-down the best bloke”.

Inspector Greg Burns said Mr Pattinson’s family had been informed. “Our thoughts are with them at this difficult time,” he said.

He has appealed for any witnesses to get in touch.

Mr Pattinson was a key player at Perthshire Rugby, which recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. He led the club to victory in 2014, securing the RBS Caledonia Division One title.

He was also involved in setting up the club’s popular beer festival, which is held at North Inch each summer. Traffic was redirected along country roads following the accident, which happened four miles from Abernethy. The road remained closed until around 5pm.

About 24 hours earlier, emergency services were called to a one-vehicle accident on the same stretch.

Adam Pattinson died in a collision with a car as he cycled to work yesterday.