13/03/2024
On this day 28 years ago, I felt the unconditional love for my unborn first child. When I heard of the terrifying event happening at Dublane, Scotland where Thomas Hamilton walked into Dunblane Primary School at shot 16 5 year old children and their teacher, I could only imagine what those parents, families, friends and communities felt. I touched my stomach to hug my unborn baby.
Now, I run the GUNS DOWN, Unn-Blade organisation to ask people to safely hand in their guns and knives and keep our communities safe.
Here is a poem I wrote for those little children
A Flower Has 16 Petals
A flower it had 16 petals; the wind carried you all away
Never did we ever expect, you wouldn't be here to stay
One petal is Victoria Clydesdale, 5 years with you was not long
On 13th March 1996, it all went so horribly wrong
One petal is Emma Crozier, your parents was over the moon,
Little did we know, the petal would blow away soon
One petal was Melissa Currie, your parents filled with joyful tears
Little did we know, they would miss your important years
One petal was Charlotte Dunn, A little girl with a loved filled heart
The love would last forever, Even though we're far apart
One petal was Kevin Hasell, who didn't understand
The loss of your presence here, so we wrote your name deep in the sand
One petal was Ross Irvine, Past memories always in our sight
But our love will last forever, that follows you night by night
One petal was David Kerr, With love and joyful grace
But our love for you, Will stay in a special place
One petal was Mhairi MacBeath, Your beautiful eyes and dark hair
Your presence and cheeky smile, Flows with the wind across the air
One petal was Brett McKinnon, you filled our hearts with joy
Little did we know that day, the angels would call our boy
One petal was Abigail McLennan, your eyes shone so bright
We hear your laughter in the wind, and see your smile at sunrise light
One petal was Emily Morton, The ringlets in your hair
A girl with a heart of gold, your presence is always there
One petal was Sophie Lockwood North, you didn't understand
How the angels came to help you, and led you by your hand
One petal was John Petrie, His laughter fills the moon
For 5 years you laughed out loud, you were taken far too soon
One petal was Joanna Ross, Your perfect smile, your perfect hair
You were perfect in every way, with all the love, you gave you shared
One petal was Hannah Scott, the day that I was told
The angels came and chose you, Because of your heart of gold
One petal was Megan Turner, your eyes shone so bright
Your presence fills us with warmth, Your laughter echoes throughout the night
We will never forget, the stem that held these petals together
She held the petals close; the stars spell out Gwen Mayor
Now, the flower has been blown away, So far away yet so near
For we'll always remember you, the world holds you in their arms and wishes you was still here
