Pensioner in court over death of teacher
75-year-old man is accused of driving dangerously
A pensioner has appeared in private at Perth Sheriff Court, charged with driving dangerously and causing the death of wellknown local teacher and former Perthshire Rugby Club captain Adam Pattinson.
Adam (36), who was a games teacher at Craigclowan Preparatory School on the outskirts of Perth, died as he cycled to work on the morning of Friday, February 28, this year.
Seventy-five-year-old Thomas Smith, of Perth, made a brief appearance before Sheriff William Wood.
He made no plea and was freed on bail. It is alleged that he drove dangerously and fatally injured Mr Pattinson on the A912 Bridge of Earn-Aberargie road.
Smith will make a further court appearance at a later date.
Tributes flooded in following the death of the much-loved sportsman who left behind his wife Claire and young son Fraser.
At the time, Allan Brown, chief executive of Perthshire Rugby, 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.”
As a child, Adam was a pupil at Craigclowan and went on to graduate in sports studies at the University of Stirling and studied for his professional graduate diploma in education in Dundee.
He was a key player at Perthshire Rugby, leading them to victory in 2014 by winning the RBS Caledonia Division One title.
Adam was also instrumental in setting up the club’s annual Perth Beer Festival on the North Inch.
As a tribute to Adam, a minute’s silence was held before the kick-off of Perthshire’s first game following his death.
The team also ‘retired’ his number four shirt for the remainder of that season.
Hundreds of family and friends attended the funeral in St Matthew’s Church, Tay Street, in March to say goodbye to a “gentle giant.”
Adam’s rugby shirt draped his coffin which was carried by a squad of rugby teammates.
Young pupils from Craigclowan also lined the kerb opposite the church, some holding flags with the black and white colours of Adam’s cherished club.