Pupils praised for rushing to OAP’S rescue

The Observer delves through the archives to look back at bygone times

Four school boys from Gargunnock were praised for rushing to the aid of a great grandfather who suffered nasty injuries following a fall.

The Observer reported how Andrew Mayhew, 74, slipped on an icy pavement as he made his way to a nearby newsagent to buy his morning newspapers.

The Mcneill Crescent resident suffered a severely sprained ankle, cuts to his lips and gums and smashed his false teeth.

It was four warm-hearted pupils from Stirling High who stopped their car on the way to school to rush to Mr Mayhew’s aid.

They were joined by two Stirling council workers as well as Stephanie Mckenzie, a woman whom Mr Mayhew has known since she was a child.

Following an appeal to trace the school boys, Mr Mayhew was this week reunited with two of them and was able to thank them for their help.

Brothers Tom, 18. and Finn, 15, Simpson, along with friends Charlie Beck, 16, and Euan Thomson, 17, stopped on Mcneill Crescent at around 8am on Thursday, March 22, 2018 when they spotted former Volvo service engineer Mr Mayhew laying on the pavement in pain.

Sixth-year pupil Tom, had only passed his driving test the prior November. He had been driving the quartet to school on the morning in question. They stopped and Euan was sent to fetch Mr Mayhew’s wife to tell her what had happened.

Tom, who was hoping to study business at university, said: “We just did what anybody would have done. It was the right thing to do. We saw him lying on the ground and we thought we had to go and help him.”

Stephanie Mckenzie was soon on the scene to lend a hand and the two council workmen helped him to sit up against the wall and gave him a bottle of water and stayed with him until the ambulance arrived.

Alistair Weir, who owns the Village Store, came out and gave Mr Mayhew his hat and jacket to keep him warm until the emergency services arrived.

Mr Mayhew, who had lived in the village for over 50 years, waited approximately half an hour for the ambulance and was taken to the A&E department at Forth Valley Royal Hospital for treatment.

The four youngsters were late for school, but they avoided punishment when one of the boys informed their mother of Mr Mayhew’s plight and she contacted the school to inform them that they would be late.

The Observer’s story then made its way on to social media and the search was on to find the four boys.

Tom said: “We couldn’t believe how many people were talking about it. We didn’t really think we had done anything that special.”

Fourth year pupil, Finn added: “It’s so odd how much it has grown. We didn’t really expect that.”

Mr Mayhew, who has ten grandchildren and a further seven great grandchildren, said: “It was really good of them all to stop and help me. I didn’t know them and I don’t think they knew me, so I appreciate what they did.

“It shows you that there are good people out there.

“I just wanted to thank everyone, The boys, the council workers and Stephanie all did a great job and I’m grateful to them all.”