Remembering...

The sixteen little lives lost and that of their dedicated teacher, 20 years ago today in Dunblane primary School.  Also the survivors and their families.

Dwelling on it, for even a moment, is enough to conjure up the feelings of shock and disbelief I felt as the news filtered through the office where I worked at the time.  

Then at home in the evening, sitting on the sofa 20 weeks into my pregnancy with Alan, in floods of tears as I watched the full tragedy unfold on the evening news, and felt him kick strongly for the first time.   

 After a number of years of trying to get pregnant, when I finally did, I couldn't quite believe it but I know that this was the moment it finally dawned on me that I was already a mum and I vividly remember wondering what sort of world my baby would be born into, as I held my belly wishing I could keep him safe inside me forever. 

It broke my heart then and still does now, to think of that wonderful teacher and the family she left behind and all those innocent little children and their parents, siblings and grandparents.    Their loss is incalculable. 

The people of Dunblane will once again be coming together in remembrance today and it is testament to the whole community that Dunblane today is such a wonderful, vibrant place, full of hope with a wonderfully strong community spirit.  Just like it always was.  

And living proof that good will always overcome evil.