The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Memorial to David Haines unveiled
EXCLUSIVE: Ex-colleagues honour Perth man murdered by IS
There was laughter and tears as friends, family and former colleagues of murdered aid worker David Haines gathered in Perth to remember him.
Two years on from his murder at the hands of IS terrorists, a permanent memorial in a garden at Perth Railway Station has been dedicated to his memory by former colleagues at ScotRail.
Among those who knew him well was the Rev Robert Wilkie, who entered the ministry after 35 years of working at the station.
He led a short prayer on Saturday as the group – which included Mr Haines’ daughter Bethany and grandson Aiden – gathered to unveil the memorial and “celebrate and honour” the man they knew.
A peaceful corner of a place in Perth which murdered aid worker David Haines knew well has been transformed into a permanent memorial to him.
The former Perth Academy pupil died at the hands of Islamic State terrorists two years ago in Syria after he was taken hostage on a humanitarian mission.
After leaving the RAF, Mr Haines had worked for ScotRail and his colleagues in Perth and Dundee decided they wanted to do something to remember their former workmate and friend.
On Saturday the fruits of their efforts – a water feature in a pond in Perth railway station’s biodiversity garden – was unveiled.
His colleagues, friends and family, including his brother Mike, daughter Bethany and his grandson Aiden visited to see the garden tribute.
“We are delighted and very touched by the gesture of ScotRail staff who knew David,” said one family member.
The water feature has a plaque inscribed “Dedicated to the Memory of David Haines, The Guv’nor”, a nickname he was known by to his ScotRail colleagues.
“The name even followed him out to Sudan,” said his brother Mike.
One man who knew Mr Haines well is the Rev Robert Wilkie, auxiliary minister at Craigie and Moncrieffe Church in Perth, who worked for 35 years at Perth railway station before entering the ministry.
He said he could imagine Mr Haines laughing at the proceedings, but he thanked all those from the station garden club for their hard work in creating the tribute.
“We are here to celebrate and honour a man who was very much part of the team at ScotRail Perth,” said Mr Wilkie.
“This will stand to remind those who come after us of the difference people like David can make.
“People are poorer for his passing and richer for having known him.”
After a short prayer led by Mr Wilkie, Mike Haines, from Dundee, thanked everyone involved on behalf of the family for the work that had gone into creating “a beautiful place”.
“David was opinionated, trouble at times and liked to cause an argument, but he had belief in community, he had belief in people which culminated in his humanitarian work,” said Mr Haines.
“He was a hero for his belief in humanity.”
He was a hero for his belief in humanity. MIKE HAINES