Tributes flow as Isle of Bute mourns the loss of six-year-old Alesha
Tributes are left for six-year-old Alesha Macphail at her grandmother’s house in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. Her mother, Georgina Lochrane, visited the commemorative scene yesterday. Police investigations are continuing after the girl’s body was found in woodland on the site of a former hotel.
The mother of six-year-old Alesha Macphail, whose body was discovered in woodland on the Isle of Bute just hours after she was reported missing, has visited the scene of floral tributes to her daughter.
Georgina Lochrane, who discovered via Facebook that Alesha was dead, was escorted to the island by police from her home in Glasgow.
Rab Macphail, Alesha’s father, also visited the tributes and laid his own flowers, while being supported by his girlfriend.
The tributes were left outside the home of Angela King and Calum Macphail, the child’s grandparents’ house in Rothesay where she had been staying at the start of the school summer holidays.
A post-mortem examination was due to be completed late last night.
Alesha was reported missing from their top-floor flat at 6:25 am on Monday morning. Her body was found at 9am in woods in the grounds of a derelict hotel after a search involving police, members of the public, and a search and rescue helicopter.
Alesha’s grandmother had appealed on Facebook for help in the search.
Detectives said on Monday they were treating the death as unexplained.
Officers took details of all passengers travelling to and from the island.
A local resident said Alesha was known to sleepwalk.
“I saw her and her gran Angie on the bus at around half four on the night before she went missing,” the man said.
“They are a nice family and very well known on the island. It’s really not clear what happened, but I know wee Alesha was known to sleepwalk.”
Messages on the floral tributes read “sleep tight little angel” and “forever in our thoughts”.
The head teacher of the primary school Alesha attended also paid tribute to the “happy, smiley” girl.
In a statement released through North Lanarkshire Council, Wendy Davie from Chapelside primary in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, said: “Alesha started with us in August 2016 and had just finished primary two.
“She loved being at school and enjoyed all aspects of litis eracy, in particular writing. She was such a perfectionist in her handwriting and was very proud of her work.
“Alesha was very friendly and she welcomed everyone first thing in the morning at breakfast club.
“She was a very considerate child who loved being part of a group and she was popular with all the other children and was a smiley and happy young girl.”
Ms Davie added: “She was part of the family of Chapelside Primary and she will be greatly missed by everyone at the school. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and the Chapelside community at this very sad time.”
Police are conducting door-to-door inquiries and appealed for anyone who was involved in the search for Alesha to contact them.
The Rev Owain Jones, parish minister at the United Church of Bute, said the tragedy had affected the entire community.
“I think my personal reaction just the same as everybody else’s – I am stunned,” he said.
“And I am lost for words and this is not something we are used to in our community. Whatever it is, it’s just tragic.”
Councillor Len Scoular said: “Everyone is very shocked, very sympathetic and concerned. We will all be offering our very sincere condolences to the family.
“We are a very small island community. People are genuinely grieving for the family.”