Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Gracie’s best birthday ever FM sends good luck tweet
JUDITH TONNER
Birthday girl Gracie Harvey had a memorable day as she turned seven – as she not only joined thousands of other youngsters in returning to school for the first time in five months, but received some special wishes from some prominent names for her big day.
The Cairnhill youngster celebrated the occasion by joining her classmates back at Rochsolloch Primary for the first time since schools closed their doors in March at the start of the coronavirus lockdown, with mum Kirsty tweeting a photo of Gracie smartly dressed in her uniform for the first day of term with a “happy birthday” banner in the background.
She tagged in Nicola Sturgeon, national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch and chief medical officer Gregor Smith, thanking them for their efforts and telling them that Gracie had declared it the “best birthday ever” – and all three sent their best wishes in reply.
The First Minister said: “Hope she has a very happy birthday and a great first day back at school.”
Dr Smith, a former Lanarkshire GP, said: “I hope that she’s had a great birthday and that she’s full of stories of her first day back for you – happy birthday!”
Professor Leitch, a former pupil of Rochsolloch Primary and Airdrie Academy, also sent his best wishes to Primary Three youngster Gracie.
He added: “And a top school too! All the very best.”
Kirsty told the Advertiser: “Gracie was delighted to be back at school and was very excited to be starting the term on her birthday – she said that it was the best day ever!
“It’s probably the only time she will have to go to school on her birthday, as the term is starting a bit earlier than it was originally due to. She was so excited to start after not having seen lots of her friends for months.”
Kirsty added: “I posted the tweet as we were all just quite excited and happy to get back after a tough few months.
“I thought I’d tag the people I did to thank them for making the decisions to get back to school, but I was totally surprised that they all replied. We thought Jason Leitch might reply as he went to Rochsolloch and he’s replied to tweets before.
“But it was brilliant to hear from Nicola Sturgeon and Gracie was absolutely delighted when I told her after school.
“She had a great birthday and loved being back with her class and teacher.”