Dunblane

We heard the news at lunch time at th e school I taught in. Our lunch time supervisors always brought in breaking news as they arrived at school, Dunblane, 911,77. I remember the shock. Not only did it change the gun laws, it also brought in schools with much increased security.

If only the US shootings affected their laws.

I had never understood why there was such a huge reaction to a mass killing (whether by accident or intentionally) as surely every single premature death was just as big a tragedy for those affected - until that day.

I was with a group of colleagues in Stirling Highland Hotel (belatedly) celebrating International Women's Day and popped out to reception to confirm that we would be ready for lunch shortly. The receptionists looked ashen. They had just heard on the radio that there had been a shooting in Dunblane Primary School. As you do, I ran a quick check in my brain and decided, with relief, that, personally, I knew no one connected with the school. Returned to tell my colleaugues the news and then was hit with a thunderbolt - one was a Mum with a child in the school, our guest speaker (from Edinburgh) had a niece in the school and another was actually that day's SW duty officer. So no lunch that day as we all rushed off to check on friends/clients/relatives/work colleagues who might be involved.

The next days/weeks/months had an air of unreality as ripples spread and more connections came to light. Everyone I knew, from miles around, was affected in someway. Not only relatives and friends but the police, teachers and Education Department, Councillors and people you would not think of - the local press, clergy, undertakers, posties and florists. The thing that struck me most, demonstrating the impact on the wider community was that the following day when I tried to get a sympathy card in Stirling (for one of my husband's customers whose daughter had been killed) and a 'get well' card (for a friend's Grandaughter who was badly injured) there was not a single card or flower to be had anywhere. I volunteered to go to Alloa (15 miles away from Dunblane) to get cards and flowers for various colleagues to send but discovered there were no suitable cards or flowers left in Alloa either. The only flowers out in the garden were snowdrops so I took them into work next day and on every anniversary thereafter.

I couldn't watch it as I will never forget that day - I remember going to my children's school the same as a lot of parents and being allowed to bring my children home. We spent a long time cuddling each other. All the doors were locked during the day after that and it was almost like the end of innocence.

My former husband was a vicar at that time. He opened the church the next day and we put a sign up at the local shops to say it was open. Several of us took turns to sit in church. I picked snowdrops from our garden and took my son's teddy bear and placed them on the altar.

I am glad the church was open - a long way away from Dunblane, on the N. Kent coast, but people came and prayed and wept.

I know someone whose daughter was a teacher in the school . Can you believe she got hate mail in the aftermath . It beggars belief .

One of DH's shooting friends heard the news as he was driving home. He said he had to pull over and stop because, having been in the army and seen action, he knew what would have happened to the children.

This was a very thoughtful programme which made me glad to be British. I'm so glad that within 2 years parliament changed the laws on hand guns. When americansrefuse to change their gun laws I feel very sad. It was excellent that there was minimal mention of the killer. Also the respect for the 25 year old who did not wish to take part.

Dunblane is one of those defining moments. I was glad to have a chance to review how I understood it and to see how people had gone on and lived their lives despite it.

I didn't see the programme itself but was in tears watching them talk about it on Gogglebox. Some of the younger people on Gogglebox hadn't heard of what happened in Dunblane and were visibly moved by what they saw.

I was in the classroom teaching my P1's! The headteacher came in, quite shaken, to watch the ongoing coverage in the small tv room adjoining my room. She informed me of what had happened, ensuring, of course, that the children didn't overhear. Sitting there surrounded by my five year olds, was very much a 'there but for the grace of God' moment!

I remember this so well, having a 6 yr old of my own at the time. I didn't see the programme, and don't want to watch it as I'm an emotional old thing. My cousin's son posted this photo from Dunblane Cathedral. It's a lovely memorial.