One old man told me he looked up to find his dead neighbour’ s leg sticking through the ceiling .. you don’ t forget something like that
Salvation Army minister and his emergency response team rally to offer support to 999 crews and communities dealing with tragedies
MAJOR Ian Patrick has witnessed more tragedy and heartache than anyone should see in a lifetime.
For the last 30 years, the devoted Salvation Army emergency response team worker has stood strong through the aftermaths of some of Scotland’s worst tragedies, offering support to stricken victims and exhausted 999 crew members.
He saw the devastation caused by the Stockline factory gas blast in Glasgow which killed nine people in 2004 and helped support families after the Clutha helicopter crash in the city which claimed the lives of 10 people in 2013.
But it is the unimaginable horror of the Lockerbie disaster, the indomitable spirit shown by locals and the plight of one distraught elderly resident that remain etched in his memory.
Ian was called to the town in 1988, the morning after Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed by a bomb, killing all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground.
The 77-year-old, said: “I made my way to the town, arriving at 6am. It was a scene of utter chaos.
“I’d seen nothing like it – it resembled something from a warzone.
“We began speaking to residents and helped operate Salvation Army canteens. People were in complete shock but I’ll never forget one elderly man who was standing at his door. The poor man was heartbroken.
“He told me how he had looked up at his ceiling to find his dead neighbour’s leg sticking through.
“The crash happened very near to him and all around was sheer devastation. We prayed together and talked, it was very emotional. You don’t forget something like that, it stays with you.
“We made sure he had food and warm clothes as everyone pulled together. People were deeply saddened, of course, but there was a quiet steadiness about how people came together and responded.
“Our van broke down and we took it to a local garage. When we went to pay, the mechanic refused to take our money and said, ‘You are doing so much for us. This is the least I can do for you.’” During his service, Ian also offered support when an RAF jet crashed into a hillside in Argyll in 2009 and helped as Clydebank mourned the murder of teenager Paige Doherty last year.
He never knows when he will be called upon but making a difference to those most in need drives him on.
The grandad, from Houston in Renfrewshire, said: “We get called on our emergency phone and I’ll rally our team. We work closely with the Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland and we get to the scene as soon as possible.
“Quite often I have no idea how bad it’s going to be. I just have to deal with it when I get there.
“At the Clutha helicopter crash, we were serving up food and hot drinks and at about 2am, a policeman came up and said, ‘I’ve got this bag for you’.
“It was an elderly lady who tried to come in through the cordon. She said, ‘I just want to give this to the Salvation Army.’ It was carrier bag filled with packets of biscuits. “It always amazes me just how kind people can be, especially during such difficult circumstances.”
Ian, who is married to wife May, 73, spent time comforting a firefighter who feared his dad had perished in the Clutha. He said: “He was worried because his dad would go there to listen to live music. He came up to our van to get some tea and phoned his mum to
I’d seen nothing like it – it resembled something from a warzone
IAN ON LOCKERBIE
ask if his dad went to Clutha. She told him he had changed his mind at the last minute and went to another pub. It was very emotional.
“The Stockline Plastics factory explosion was tragic but you just do all you can to help.
“When Paige Doherty was killed, the team spent 10 days working to support police and the community.
“Often taking the time to talk to someone or offer them a warm drink makes the world of difference.
“It’s important people know they are not alone.”
Ian, who is also a minister, joined the Salvation Army in 1959 and has over 30 years of service with the emergency response unit in the west of Scotland.
In 1999, he was called to support residents and emergency workers at an explosion in Lanark, which killed a family of four.
He said: “It badly damaged surrounding houses and a factory, as well as putting an old people’s home in danger.
“We were helping people at the scene and I went to one of the nearby houses to see if we could help.
“A woman answered and she was holding a baby. She told us the electricity was off and we decided to help to feed all of the residents nearby. They were very grateful.”
Ian has been given a state-of-theart vehicle to respond to emergencies across the west of Scotland. It is funded by donations and is stocked with food, blankets and first aid equipment, as well as facilities to serve food and drink for emergency personnel.
He said: “It will make a massive difference because we now have bigger cooking area allowing us to get food prepared more quickly.
“I enjoy what I do and see it more as a calling from God. There are times when it’s difficult and you feel upset for the people you speak to.
“I go home and speak to my wife about it and that helps me cope.
“Our support for emergency personnel and local communities at emergencies is a vital part of our work.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said: “We are delighted to work with the Salvation Army, who have provided support for many years to the emergency services during major incidents.
“The launch of this new emergency response vehicle will be a key asset to the Salvation Army and will assist Police Scotland and other blue light services in times of need.” ● For more information, visit www. salvationarmy.org.uk.