Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2016 13:35:05 GMT 7
We've just gone past the twentieth anniversary of that crime against society.
I had just done the school run, dropping off my nine year old daughter and five year old son, and was still in the car when the first report came through.
"Reports of a shooting at a school in Dunblane."
What? nah, can't be right. I know now it was one of those JFK moments.
"Reports of four dead in shooting."
It can't be, this must be another country, this doesn't happen in Scotland.
Lockerbie ground Scotland to a halt, we could not believe what we were seeing, and only sixty miles down the road. Dunblane, twenty-five miles away and a twon where I'd visited and enjoyed, was a leafy middle to upper class area. Private schools, tennis courts, Dunblane Hydro hotel - an idyllic small country town.
Word spread, the TV cameras arrived, and Scotland slowly ground to a halt again. By the time kids were due to be picked up from school we had a better idea of the scale of the tragedy, from memory I believe the number thought to be dead was around twelve at that point, more confirmed later.
Man, the school gates that day were a traumatic sight. Before the kids came out mothers were wailing and comforting each other, in a state of disbelief. And don't be kidded, rough and tough Scottish fathers and grandfathers were in tears too. The young kids that came out must have wondered what hit them when they were swept up and given not cuddles, but bear hugs.
The word is trauma - the whole nation was traumatized. Stunned disbelief giving way to collective grief. Dunblane was carpeted in flowers, and although so close, there was no way I or any of my family wanted to visit. I've never understood that collective need to rubberneck grief - and that's how I feel about it. I've been at enough emotionally wrenching funerals to never want to seek out the sight of a grieving parent - unless it's a personal friend that needs support - of course, I would be there.
The shops were deserted, commercial life came to a standstill - I saw the same thing happen 18 months later when Diana died. Yes, in both cases the country ground to a halt, but with Dunblane - the trauma was deeper and longer lasting.
For days after you'd walk down the streets and see people burst into tears. There must have been a spike into Doctor referrals, people unable to sleep at night and falling into depression. The Queen arrived, and really, no one cared. It's one of the few occasions when I've seen the Queen look uncomfortable in a situation. What do you say to the parents? HMQ was in an impossible position.
I saw that a year later when the British public disgraced itself by demanding she return from Balmoral to Buckingham Palace, and further demanded a statement from her on TV. That's one time the Britsih public called it wrong. HMQ was in the right place, away from the public eye, comforting her grieving grandsons. I watched her televised address and was appalled on her behalf - forced to talk due to the emotional incontinence of many ( not all ) of my fellow Brits.
At least we didn't have the grandstanding of Diana's funeral to contend with - Earl Spencer talking about "we, your blood family," to the boys, and gaining a round of applause. I wonder how many would have applauded so enthusiastically if they knew he refused to accomodate Diana on the family estate when she was still alive?
No, in Dunblane we had the heartbreaking sight of the children being buried looking towards their teacher, who had also died. From memory, one or two of the children were buried elsewhere, understandable for parents to want their children closer to the family home down south.
Life sems to throw up many appaling situations frpm 9/11 to natural disasters such as the 2004 Tsunami. Like everyone else, these events touch me and affect me - but Dunblane is the one that's seared into my soul, and the Scottish collective memory.
And that's why I watch these mass shootings in the USA and wince - wince that another community has been subjected to that evil. I'm of the opinion that this speech was Obama's finest moment - full speech here.
and the Amazing Grace segment -
To the kids of Dunblane - we did the only thing we could do - we banned the guns that killed you. I look forward to the day that other kids can live in the safety your deaths bequested.
I had just done the school run, dropping off my nine year old daughter and five year old son, and was still in the car when the first report came through.
"Reports of a shooting at a school in Dunblane."
What? nah, can't be right. I know now it was one of those JFK moments.
"Reports of four dead in shooting."
It can't be, this must be another country, this doesn't happen in Scotland.
Lockerbie ground Scotland to a halt, we could not believe what we were seeing, and only sixty miles down the road. Dunblane, twenty-five miles away and a twon where I'd visited and enjoyed, was a leafy middle to upper class area. Private schools, tennis courts, Dunblane Hydro hotel - an idyllic small country town.
Word spread, the TV cameras arrived, and Scotland slowly ground to a halt again. By the time kids were due to be picked up from school we had a better idea of the scale of the tragedy, from memory I believe the number thought to be dead was around twelve at that point, more confirmed later.
Man, the school gates that day were a traumatic sight. Before the kids came out mothers were wailing and comforting each other, in a state of disbelief. And don't be kidded, rough and tough Scottish fathers and grandfathers were in tears too. The young kids that came out must have wondered what hit them when they were swept up and given not cuddles, but bear hugs.
The word is trauma - the whole nation was traumatized. Stunned disbelief giving way to collective grief. Dunblane was carpeted in flowers, and although so close, there was no way I or any of my family wanted to visit. I've never understood that collective need to rubberneck grief - and that's how I feel about it. I've been at enough emotionally wrenching funerals to never want to seek out the sight of a grieving parent - unless it's a personal friend that needs support - of course, I would be there.
The shops were deserted, commercial life came to a standstill - I saw the same thing happen 18 months later when Diana died. Yes, in both cases the country ground to a halt, but with Dunblane - the trauma was deeper and longer lasting.
For days after you'd walk down the streets and see people burst into tears. There must have been a spike into Doctor referrals, people unable to sleep at night and falling into depression. The Queen arrived, and really, no one cared. It's one of the few occasions when I've seen the Queen look uncomfortable in a situation. What do you say to the parents? HMQ was in an impossible position.
I saw that a year later when the British public disgraced itself by demanding she return from Balmoral to Buckingham Palace, and further demanded a statement from her on TV. That's one time the Britsih public called it wrong. HMQ was in the right place, away from the public eye, comforting her grieving grandsons. I watched her televised address and was appalled on her behalf - forced to talk due to the emotional incontinence of many ( not all ) of my fellow Brits.
At least we didn't have the grandstanding of Diana's funeral to contend with - Earl Spencer talking about "we, your blood family," to the boys, and gaining a round of applause. I wonder how many would have applauded so enthusiastically if they knew he refused to accomodate Diana on the family estate when she was still alive?
No, in Dunblane we had the heartbreaking sight of the children being buried looking towards their teacher, who had also died. From memory, one or two of the children were buried elsewhere, understandable for parents to want their children closer to the family home down south.
Life sems to throw up many appaling situations frpm 9/11 to natural disasters such as the 2004 Tsunami. Like everyone else, these events touch me and affect me - but Dunblane is the one that's seared into my soul, and the Scottish collective memory.
And that's why I watch these mass shootings in the USA and wince - wince that another community has been subjected to that evil. I'm of the opinion that this speech was Obama's finest moment - full speech here.
and the Amazing Grace segment -
To the kids of Dunblane - we did the only thing we could do - we banned the guns that killed you. I look forward to the day that other kids can live in the safety your deaths bequested.
