‘Days like this could heal some of the scars the town still suffers’
It was the day that Dunblane was perhaps finally able to shake off the shadow of its tragic past. For too long the 8,000-strong population of the small town just north of Stirling have been associated with the mass shooting in its primary school that left 17 dead in 1996. The scars still run deep in this tight-knit community.
But yesterday locals described how Andy Murray’s continued success and wedding fever was transforming the town.
Local artist Ian McNab, who has run a picture frame shop in Dunblane for the last 15 years, said: “There’s a great deal of affection for Andy and his family.
“Judy comes into the shop now and again and Andy’s grandparents are customers. Over the years I’ve framed one of Andy’s scorecards for them. There’s a real community spirit in Dunblane. I noticed it as soon as I started painting here within six months I was asked to do a reading at the church. That sums up the town.
“For too long people were afraid to come to Dunblane because of what had happened. Andy is repainting the town in a positive light. For that, everyone is grateful.”
As Stirling Council’s sole road sweeper in Dunblane, John Wordie had been tasked with keeping the streets in tip-top condition for Andy and Kim’s big day. And it wasn’t easy with the estimated 3,000 visitors lining the streets.
“It’s been a bit hectic,” John said. “The whole town’s buzzing and has been for days. It’s lovely to get something good to talk about. Everyone here remembers what happened at the school.
Bank of Scotland worker Sandra Donald says she was “very proud” of the town. She’s lived in Dunblane for 33 years and went to school with killer Thomas Hamilton, who she describes as a “real loner”.
“Andy has done nothing but positive things for this town,” she said. “My work is right next to the golden post box they gave him when he won the Olympics. If the town’s people were paid a pound for every time someone took a picture of it we’d all be millionaires!”
Pauline Casey, 56, who owns the local gift shop Charisma, added: “It’s the sort of boost we are all keen on. I suppose it’s traditional for the couple to get married in the bride’s home town. So to pick Dunblane shows you the affection the couple must hold for us all.”
It’s not just locals who queued for hours to catch a glimpse of the new Mr and Mrs Murray. Tennis-mad sisters Agnes Paterson and Jean MacAuley have come from towns a few miles away St Ninians and Bannockburn.
Jean said: “We are both tennis and Murray fans. Even though we’re not from Dunblane, we consider Murray a local lad. The boost he’s given to the town has been immense.”
Florence Pritchard has come from nearby Stenhousemuir on the train. She often comes to Dunblane and thinks others should do the same.
She said: “It’s great to see so much happiness in the town. It’s a smashing wee place. For too long people have thought about it for all the wrong reasons. It’s good to have days like this to remember Dunblane by.”
Ross Douglas
At 16, busking piper Ross Douglas who attends Stirling’s St Boden’s High wasn’t even born until three years after the incident. But he’s all too aware of its aftermath.
“It’s great to see Dunblane in a positive light,” he said. “Days like this could heal some of the scars the town still suffers.”
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